March 1, 2001
Bluffton College senior Jen Bear (Grover Hill/Lincolnview High School) has been named first team All-Heartland Conference as voted on the HCAC coaches earlier this week.
A 6’0” post player, Bear led BC in scoring and rebounding this season with 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In HCAC games she increased those totals to 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and shot 50.4% from the field. She was third on the team in blocks (14) and fourth in steals (26). Her point average ranked seventh in the HCAC and her rebounding average was fourth. 74 of her boards came at the offensive end, which tied for most in the league.
Last week she was also named to the All-HCAC Tournament team, as she collected double-doubles in both of Bluffton’s tourney games. She combined for 31 points and 21 rebounds in a first round win over Anderson University and a semi-final loss at Defiance College.
A four-year varsity performer for the Beavers, Bear played in 87 games for BC, scoring 708 points and collecting 468 rebounds. Her career point total is the 14th highest in school history, and her rebounding total is tied for sixth best all-time. Her 196 rebounds as a senior is the seventh-best single-season rebound total ever.
Bluffton finished the 2000-01 season with a 12-14 overall record and earned a #4 seed in the Heartland Conference tournament. BC saw their season come to end last Friday night in the HCAC semi-finals to #1 seed and eventual conference champion Defiance College.
Bear was the only Bluffton player tabbed for all-league honors this season.
