With the home opening win, the Berg improves their record to 4-0, while the Lady Beavers drops to 2-3 on the young season.
Bluffton gave Heidelberg trouble early, holding a 19-11 lead nine minutes into the game. Heidelberg would come storming back with a 19-0 run over the games next six minutes to turn an eight-point deficit into a 12-point lead. During the stretch, Skolnicki drained a three-pointer, made an old fashioned three-point play, and added another lay-up for eight of her 23 points.
Despite being down 11, the Lady Beavers would go on a run of their own in the final five minutes of the half to cut the Berg lead to 35-33. In the 14-5 run, Bluffton's Angie Lee netted eight points.
Heidelberg and Bluffton played basket for basket over the half's first 13:30, with Bluffton even taking a brief 49-47 lead on a lay-up by Lindsay Bush at the 11:56 mark. With Heidelberg up 57-55 with 6:30 left in the game, sophomore Maureen Hunter scored her only field goal of the night to spark a 'Berg run that included two jumpers by sophomore Hollie Knott and a three-pointer that used a generous bounce off of the rim by senior Katie Borngen. In the games last minute, Heidelberg went 4-6 from the charity stripe to seal the win.
For Heidelberg, Skolnicki scored 23 on 8-13 shooting from the field, including 3-6 from downtown and 4-5 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Amanda Campbell ]posted 11 points, three steals and three assists.
Angie Lee led Bluffton in scoring, coming off the bench with 18 points. Tanya Rickenburg added 14 points and eight rebounds for Bluffton.
The Berg returns to action Friday night when they host the Marietta Lady Pioneers in their Ohio Athletic Conference opener. Tip-off is set for 7:30 in Seiberling Gymnasium.