Box Score TERRE HAUTE, Ind. â€" Transylvania women's basketball outlasted the Rose-Hulman Engineers Saturday, nailing critical free-throw shots down the stretch in the 72-61 victory.

Junior guard Nicole Coffman lead the team in scoring for the seventh time this season, racking up 29 points and four rebounds. Two other Pioneers, including sophomore guard Katelyn Smith and junior Alex McKenzie, hit double-digits in the win, recording 16 points and seven rebounds and 13 points and six rebounds, respectively.

The Engineers applied the pressure early, playing an aggressive defense that caused two Transylvania turnovers in the first two minutes of the contest. The physicality of the game would be evident as five fouls were called between the teams by the 17-minute mark.

Transylvania picked up the pace, grabbing the 8-6 lead at the 17-minute mark thanks to a two-point shot by Smith. Shots were few and far between for the teams, as the Pioneers went 3-for-8 and Rose 2-for-17 through the opening minutes. But, it was a long two-point jumper by Coffman that sparked Transylvania's offense six-minutes in, sending the Pioneers on a 14-2 run.

Leading 22-8, Transylvania's scoring momentum was halted as Rose-Hulman began drawing fouls in the paint with aggressive drives to the basket. The strategy change sent the Engineers on a 5-0 run, cutting the Pioneer cushion to single-digits.

The Engineers would be their own worst enemy, as poor first-half shooting gave Transylvania a fragile seven-point advantage at the half, 32-25. The Engineers went 27 percent from the field and 1-for-7 behind the arc.

Rose-Hulman took no time snapping the Pioneers' momentum in the second half, hitting their first points within 10 seconds of the whistle. The Engineers stepped on the gas, challenging the Pioneers on defense and improving to 46 percent from the field.

The Engineers chipped away at the Pioneer advantage. Through the first 10 minutes of the second, Rose went on a 19-9 scoring streak, trailing 46-41.

A critical turnover at the 10-minute mark by Coffman resulted in a foul, giving away a pair of free-throws to the Engineers, making it a 48-43 ballgame. Less than a minute later, a layup and corresponding free-throw, gave Transylvania a slim two-point advantage.

 The pressure didn't affect the Pioneers, as they maintained composure, steadily hitting from the field and applying defensive pressure down the stretch. With 59 seconds on the clock, a layup by McKenzie pushed the Pioneer advantage to nine.

Four clutch free-throws by Webb in the final 20 seconds secured the Pioneer victory, 72-61.

"Today was a hard fought defensive battle," said Head Coach Greg Todd. "I like the way we responded in a close game on the road today."

The Pioneers (15-2, 9-1) face conference opponent Earlham on the road Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.