Final Score:  Bluffton 58, Earlham 49
Location: Richmond, Indiana – Druley Performance Gym
Records: Earlham 0-1 / Bluffton 9-1

RICHMOND, Indiana – Bluffton University's 10-0 run lasting nearly five minutes spanning the third and fourth quarter broke a tight game wide open, allowing the visiting Beavers to escape Druley Performance Gym with a 58-49 win over Friday evening.

Senior Kayla Bowling paced Earlham (0-1) with 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field with three 3-pointers.

First year Marissa Quiroz cracked double-digits in her collegiate debut with 10 points and five blocks. Senior Rosie Newhart hauled down 10 rebounds to lead the Quakers on the boards.

The Quakers led for most of the first half, with the Beavers taking a slim 23-22 lead at the halftime break on Taylor Malson's layup with eight seconds remaining.

A Bowling three with 8:40 showing put Earlham back in front 28-27, but the Beavers answered with a layup and a 3-pointer from Emma Saltzman to regain the lead.

Earlham remained within three, 40-37, with 1:06 left in the third quarter on a Bowling jumper, but Bluffton answered with a 10-0 surge that ended with the Beavers leading 50-37 with 6:36 remaining in the game.

Brianna Gillig led Bluffton (9-1) with 15 points while Nora Hemminger tallied 12 points and five rebounds.

Earlham women's basketball will complete the two-game series with Bluffton tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, Jan. 23, at 4:30 p.m. when the two teams meet again in Bluffton, Ohio.