Lexington, Ky. – The No. 17 Transylvania women's basketball team used a massive second-half burst to power past the Berea College Mountaineers, 67-47 on Saturday afternoon at the Clive M. Beck Center in the 2021 Pat Deacon Classic opener.

Competing at home for the first time in the 2021-22 season, the Pioneers tipped off the Pat Deacon Classic with a resounding second-half answer to erase a four-point halftime deficit for their third double-digit win of the season in four games.

Transylvania remained undefeated at 4-0 while Berea suffered its first loss of the season to drop to 5-1 overall.

Laken Ball exploded for the first 11 points of the day for Transylvania to finish with a game-high 18 points. The junior put forth an efficient performance of 8 for 14 shooting from the field and led all players in rebounds with nine boards.

Behind Ball's first quarter salutation, the Pioneers stretched out to a 15-8 advantage. Berea closed the quarter on a 6-1 run to pull within two points at the quarter break.

The Mountaineers used a flurry of triples in the second quarter and clogged the paint on the other end to find themselves with a 33-29 halftime lead.

Transylvania reemerged from the locker room with suffocating defense and a game-changing run. Following an opening-minute field goal by Berea to start the second half, the Pioneers countered with a 17-0 run over the next five minutes to create a double-digit advantage. Grace Shope scored five straight points on a pair of free throws and a long-range basket and Dasia Thornton continued to own the paint with a series of rebounds and putbacks. Transylvania outscored Berea, 26-8 in the third quarter to put the game suddenly out of reach.

Transylvania's intensity continued as the home team scored the first eight points of the final quarter to collect the double-digit win.

Thornton fielded 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and hit on 6 of 9 field goals. Kennedi Stacy tallied 12 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one assist.

Transylvania shot 43 percent from the floor overall and held Berea to 3 for 27 shooting in the second half for an 11 percent figure.

The Pioneers aim for a 5-0 start to the season against Piedmont University tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in the final game of the Pat Deacon Classic. Their matchup will follow a 1:00 p.m. contest between Alma College and Berea at the Beck Center.

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