Bluffton plays defense on Olivet College during the final quarter of a 77-43 Beavers win on Nov. 17. Photo by Andrew Collinsworth
Story and photo by Andrew Collinsworth
The Bluffton University Women’s Basketball team is coming off a 2020 season in which they went 14-6 in overall and 12-6 in the conference, with two non-conference wins coming against the Adrian Bulldogs of Adrian, Michigan. The women are 2-1 so far this season.
However, Coach Chad Shutler is ready to move on from last season and does not think that momentum will carry over into this season.
“Last year was so different…it was just kind of a ‘get through it’ season,” Shutler said. “This is a brand-new year, yes we had a winning season…but I think we’re starting from scratch with this season.”
The Beavers will look to continue the winning going into the 2021 season with the loss of only one regular starter from last season and the return of the team’s top four leading scorers, senior forward Brianna Gillig, junior guard Sammy Shardo, senior center Emma Saltzman, and sophomore guard Maddie Fitzpatrick.
“It always helps if you have experienced players who have played that know what to expect and know the ins and outs,” Shutler said.
Shutler said the team’s leading scorer from last season, Brianna Gillig, scores well inside the paint and out of the post. This leads to Shutler’s main area of focus to be finding improvement in scoring from the outside.
“We’re going to need to develop perimeter players, perimeter scoring and an outside threat as the year goes,” Shutler said. “We’re not sure who that’s going to be yet.”
Freshman Lydia Anderson said she is using this time to grow and get acclimated to college basketball.
“I’m most excited [about] just getting the chance to play and be able to learn everything I can as a first-year,” Anderson said. “In high school practices were not high speed, you had more leisure time. Now you are spending the whole three hours in the gym grinding and pushing yourself to the limit.”
The Beavers took on Oberlin in the season opener on Saturday, Nov. 14 and dropped a close contest by a final score of 55-47. Morgan Smith led the Beavers with 12 points and 8 rebounds in 27 minutes coming off the bench. Bluffton bounced back with a 77-43 win over Olivet College on Wednesday, Nov. 17 Sammy Shardo led the charge for the Beavers scoring 18 points and shooting 7-for-12 including 4-for-8 from the 3-point line. Bluffton won 64-51 to Heidelberg University on Nov. 23. Their next game will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 against Ohio Wesleyan in Sommer Center.
