BOXSCORE

Bluffton, Ohio – The Thunder women's basketball team defeated Bluffton University 80-76 on Saturday in the Championship game of the 2009 Bluffton Tip-Off Tournament. Wheaton is now 2-1 on the season, while Bluffton falls to 2-1. Wheaton will return to action on November 24 at 7 PM when the team plays the fourth game of its season-opening five game road trip at Illinois College.

Today's contest saw 13 lead changes, all in the first half, and the score was tied on six occasions. Wheaton led the Beavers 37-36 at halftime. The Thunder opened the second half with a 12-6 scoring run to take a seven-point advantage at 49-42 with 15:53 remaining in the game.

Over the final five minutes of the game the Beavers kept closing Wheaton's lead as the hosts tied the game on three occasions in the final five minutes. However, Wheaton never gave up the lead. With 45-seconds left in regulation a pair of free throws by Lissie McAlvey broke a 76-76 tie and gave the Thunder a 78-76 lead. Bluffton missed a shot on the possession that followed McAlvey's free throws and the hosts were force to foul Wheaton freshman Breanna Bohlen, who made the second of two free throw attempts to extend the Thunder advantage to 79-76 with 29-seconds left. Bluffton missed a three-point attempt in the closing seconds and Wheaton senior Sarah Jones collected the rebound. The Beavers fouled Jones who made one of her two free throw attempts to account for the final score of 80-76.

McAlvey led the Thunder 20 points and three steals. The guard was 7-for-10 from the field with a 2-for-3 effort from three-point range. Bohlen continued her impressive debut with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Jones scored 13 points, with five rebounds. Bohlen was named the tournament's "Most Valuable Player", while McAlvey was also named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.

Kim Miller led Bluffton with 16 points and seven assists, while Vicki Auer and Ginny Buckingham each scored 15 points for the hosts.

Wheaton shot 45.6% (26-57) from the field, with 35.3% (6-17) from three-point range and 73.3% (22-30) at the free throw line. Bluffton posted a 47.1% (24-51) field goal percentage, with 36.8% (7-19) from behind the three-point arc and 72.4% (21-29) at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded the Beavers 37-33, with a 12-9 edge on the offensive glass.