The coaches
Bluffton is led by first year head coach Cathy Bonner, while Manchester is led by second year head coach Michele Gill.
Season records
Bluffton is now 0-4 after suffering two non-conference losses last week, including Saturday at #9 Capital University in which the Beavers shot 62% in the second half and outscored the Crusaders 45-40.
Manchester is now 2-3 and has seen their last four games decided by an average of seven points per game.
Last season
Bluffton won both meetings, including an 85-57 decision on Feb. 7 here in Founders Hall. Earlier in the season, the Beavers escaped Manchester’s Stauffer-Wolfe Arena with a 73-69 win.
In their win here in Founders Hall, Bluffton shot 48% from the floor and outrebounded Manchester 52-38 as six BC seniors, including current assistant coaches Amy Aschemeier and Kristy Crall, went out winners on Senior Night.
The players
Bluffton returns one starter and five total letterwinners from last season’s squad, which finished 12-14 overall and advanced to the HCAC tournament semi-finals. Manchester, meanwhile, returns two starters and five total letterwinners from squad from last season, which finished 4-21 overall and 2-10 in the HCAC.
Junior guard Kristin Helvey’s 12.5 points per game leads the Beaver offensive attack, and she also leads the team with eight steals, eight 3-pointers and a 71% clip from the free throw line. Also ranking among the team leaders are junior forward Melissa James (8.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and junior post player Lyndsey Robinson (8.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg).
Manchester junior Missy Hoppe, one of their returning starters, has led the Spartans in scoring in three of their first five games and leads the team with 14.0 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. A pair of underclassmen are also having fine seasons, as freshman Erica Sewell (10.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and sophomore Julie Heckman (9.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) are quite capable at both ends of the court.
Statistical matchups
On paper these two teams are quite similar. Both squads have balanced offensive attacks but are being slightly outrebounded by their opponents and have a negative turnover ratio. Both teams would like to see improvement in certain shooting categories, as Bluffton is hitting just 48% of their free throws and Manchester is shooting just 17% from 3-point range.
Around the HCAC
Two other Heartland Conference games are on the schedule tonight as Defiance travels to Anderson and Mount St. Joseph visits Franklin. In non-league action, Hanover hosts Indiana-Southeast tonight and tomorrow night Transylvania hosts Alice Lloyd.
