BEREA, Ky. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team fell behind 43-25 at the half en route to a 67-57 loss at Berea College on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. Bluffton slipped to 4-5 overall and 0-4 in the Heartland Conference, while Berea improved to 4-5 and 2-2 in the HCAC.

Junior Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) and freshman Karlie Niekamp (Tipp City/Fort Recovery) sandwiched triples around a Jessica Moore (Trenton/Edgewood) layup, putting the visitors up 8-5 just over three minutes into the game. Rachel Clark's (Lima/Bath) layup made it 10-7 midway through the first quarter, but 11 straight counters for the Mountaineers helped the hosts to a 20-12 lead after one.

Back-to-back buckets by junior Erin Schaufelberger (Van Wert) and four straight points from Clark helped the Beavers pull within 18 points (43-25) at the break.

Stevely buried a pair of trifectas and Macee Heckathorn (Kenton) hit three deuces as Bluffton kept the spread under 20 (56-39) heading to the final period.

Senior Lacie Fenstermaker (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) scored four in a row before freshman Hayley Burke (Mount Vernon) hit from outside the arc, pulling the Beavers within 13 (60-47) at the 7:14 mark. Niekamp drilled four straight freebies and Fenstermaker dropped a deuce, but Berea closed out its 67-57 victory to celebrate Blue Christmas at the Seabury Center.

Niekamp, Fenstermaker and Clark all bucketed 10 points, while Stevely went 3-of-8 from distance for nine counters. Niekamp and Clark shared game-high rebounding honors with nine boards apiece. Clark also led the way with three assists.

Bluffton hit just 20-of-60 (33.3 percent) from the field, including 5-for-18 (27.8 percent) on triples. The Beavers were a solid 12-of-15 (80 percent) at the charity stripe. Bluffton pulled down one more rebound (43-42), but the visitors turned it over four more times (13-9). Berea dominated the paint to the tune of a 36-20 advantage.

-BEAVERS-