Lexington, Ky. – The No. 17 Transylvania women's basketball team used another signature early second-half burst to cruise past the Piedmont University Lions, 76-46 on Sunday afternoon at the Beck Center in the 2021 Pat Deacon Classic.

Transylvania grew a 38-30 halftime lead comfortably into double digits with a 17-0 run to open up the second half on the way to moving to 5-0 on the season. Piedmont fell to 4-2 overall with the loss.

The Pioneers enjoyed a balanced offensive effort as four players touched double figures in scoring, led by Samantha Cornelison's game-high 14 points off the bench. Cornelison hit on 4 of 7 three-pointers to guide the outside attack.

Laken Ball and Dasia Thornton led a powerful frontcourt effort for Transylvania; Ball had 11 points and eight rebounds to go with a steal and a block while Thornton tallied a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Both players were named to the Pat Deacon Classic All-Tournament Team for their outputs over the past two days.

Transylvania sparked its first significant run of the game late in the first quarter, climbing out of a 13-8 deficit to close the quarter on an 11-3 run. Kennedy Harris sank a triple for a 14-14 tie while Madison Kellione and Kennedi Stacy each provided a pair of free throws to give Transylvania the lead for good.

The Pioneers won their second consecutive quarter, 19 to 14 to gather an eight-point halftime advantage over the Lions.

Following an early jump shot in the second half by Piedmont, Ball went to work in the post, scoring on back to back chances. The junior handed the scoring baton to Cornelison and Thornton, who continued a 17-0 run by the Pioneers. Transy outscored Piedmont, 23-9 in the third quarter to put the game on ice. The Pioneers' defense never regressed as the home team held the Lions to only seven points in the final quarter.

Kellione was the other double-figure scorer with 12 points, adding four rebounds in the win.

The Pioneers returned the favor to Piedmont, who handed Transylvania a 71-69 defeat in their 2020-21 opener in Demorest, Georgia last season. The Pioneers are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since the 2014-2015 season, head coach Juli Fulks' first season at Transy.

Transylvania next plays the Franklin College Grizzlies on Wednesday, December 1 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Franklin, Indiana.  

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