Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from the Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels to a 68-55 win on Friday afternoon at the Beck Center.

After the Petrels came back from a 10-point deficit to take a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter, the Pioneers outscored Oglethorpe 23-9 in the final quarter to collect their fifth victory of the season with a 5-4 record. Oglethorpe fell to 7-4 following the loss.

Senior forward Rachel Cox had a game-high 26 points, knocking down all nine of her free throw attempts and shooting 7-for-16 from the field. Sophomore guard Shelby Boyle overcame a slow shooting night to register a career-high 14 rebounds to go with four assists.

The Pioneers used a 12-6 run that stretched through the end of the first quarter and into the second as the home team went up by 10. Oglethorpe closed within five points at 24-19 before junior guard Kristen Hayes buried a right-wing three-pointer for a 27-19 lead. Oglethorpe answered back with a three of their own before Cox scored five straight points to lead the Pioneers to a 35-27 halftime advantage.

The Pioneers struggled with a four-minute scoring drought to open the third quarter while the Stormy Petrels scored the first seven points of the half to pull within one point. Oglethorpe went on to outscore Transy 19-10 in the quarter to take a 46-45 lead to the final quarter.

Freshman guard Zenoviah Walker gave Transylvania the lead back for good early in the fourth quarter, scoring first on a pair of free throws and then on a drive. Junior guard Celia Kline drained consecutive three-pointers to put the Pioneers ahead, 58-49.

Down the stretch, Kline delivered again with a three-pointer that put Transylvania up 64-53 as the Pioneers seized control.

The Pioneers hit 22 of 24 free throws for the afternoon, compared to 5-for-10 by Oglethorpe.

Transylvania returns to action for its final game of the 2017 calendar year on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. as the Pioneers host Spalding University at the Clive M. Beck Center.

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