Bluffton, Ohio – Behind a key fourth quarter run, the Bluffton University Beavers staved off the Transylvania women's basketball team, handing the Pioneers a 72-68 defeat on Thursday evening at the Sommer Center.
In a back-and-forth second half that saw each team clinch a lead, Bluffton made the last stand to hold off the Pioneers and a last-gasp chance for the tie in the closing seconds to hold on for the slim victory.
The Beavers improved to 14-4 overall on the season while the Pioneers fell to 10-6 overall.
Dasia Thornton led the Pioneers with 16 points off the bench on 7 for 13 shooting from the floor and added four rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Bluffton jumped out to a 23-17 lead after one quarter and expanded its lead to 26-17 into the second quarter before the Pioneers answered back on a 12-2 run. Thornton scored six consecutive points on a pair of free throws and two layups to pull the Pioneers within a point with 5:01 remaining in the half. Madison Kellione drove to the hoop and scored, giving the Pioneers a 29-28 advantage with 3:55 to go in the opening half.
Bluffton closed out the half on a 10-4 run to grab a 40-35 lead at the break. The Pioneers outrebounded the Beavers 27-17 in the first half to stay within reach of the hosts.
In the third quarter the Pioneers dug away at their deficit, eventually claiming a 49-48 lead inside the final two minutes as Laken Ball connected on a fallaway jumper. Calynn Jackson and Thornton each delivered baskets in the final 1:06 of the quarter to send Transylvania into the final quarter with a 53-51 advantage.
Transylvania's momentum accumulated as Thornton scored on a putback to begin the fourth quarter to start a string of three straight scores by the Pioneers on the way to a 59-54 lead with 8:38 left in regulation.
Bluffton responded on an 8-0 run to take a 62-59 lead with 4:35 remaining in the fourth quarter as it was Transylvania's turn to claw back.
Trailing 68-64 with less than a minute and a half to go, Zenoviah Walker stole the ball and scored on a layup to slice the Transy deficit back down to two points at the 1:08 mark of the fourth quarter. Madison Kellione came up with another steal and scored again for the Pioneers with 28 seconds remaining, tying the game up at 68-all.
With time waning, the Beavers found Emma Saltzman on a sweeping reverse and the go-ahead score with eight seconds remaining. Angling for the tie, Kellione drove to the right block but had her shot blocked, and the Pioneers had to foul the Beavers as Bluffton tacked on two more points for the final tally.
Transylvania shot 39 percent from the floor on the afternoon and 5 for 26 from three-point range while the Beavers shot 37 percent from the field and 5 for 22 from outside. Bluffton nailed 21 of 24 free throws to the Pioneers 5 for 10 figure from the charity stripe.
Jackson finished the game with 12 points and six rebounds while Walker added 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Shope produced 10 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and a team-high four assists.
The teams will rematch on Saturday, February 20 at the Beck Center in Lexington. The 2:00 p.m. tip-off will be preceded by a Senior Day ceremony for Walker, Jackson, Miranda Otero, and Elizabeth Hardiman.
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