Cincinnati, Ohio – Fueled by a strong shooting performance from three-point range, the Transylvania women's basketball team used a third-quarter surge to defeat the Mount St. Joseph Lions 74-55 at the Harrington Center on Wednesday night.

With the win, the Pioneers' record now stands at 16-6 overall and 10-5 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play, giving them sole possession of third place in the conference standings with just three regular season games remaining.

Transylvania was led in scoring by sophomore guard Celia Kline, who shot an efficient 6-for-10 from the field, good for 19 points in the Pioneers victory. Kline went 5-for-9 from beyond the three-point arc to continue her sensational shooting season.  

Sophomore guard Kristen Hayes and freshman guard Ashton Woodard each added 13 points off the bench in the road victory. The strong performance by the pair of reserves gave the Pioneers a 28-18 advantage in bench points over the Lions.

Play was sloppy throughout the first half as both teams committed nine turnovers.  However, the Pioneers were able to separate themselves from the Lions before halftime, in part to shooting 8-for-15 from three-point range. Kline and Woodard each added eight points in the opening half.

The Pioneers came out of the halftime break ready to play, as they executed a dominant quarter of basketball.  Intensified defensive pressure combined with six made three-pointers allowed the Pioneers to outscore the Lions 31-10 in the third quarter. Kline led the Pioneers with nine points in the quarter.

Transylvania and Mount St. Joseph were content to trade baskets throughout the fourth quarter as both teams relied heavily upon their reserves on the way to the 74-55 final.

Next up, the Pioneers will look to secure their postseason position, as they battle the Defiance College Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon. The matchup of two top-five HCAC teams is set for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff at the Beck Center.

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