Lexington, Ky. - The Transylvania women's basketball team is on to the Elite Eight of the 2022 NCAA Women's Division III Tournament after they hung on to win a nail biting contest over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders at the Clive M. Beck Center on Friday night, by a final score of 63-58.
 
The Beck Center was packed with fans and filled with anticipation for the win or go home game, and the Pioneers came out feeding off of the energy in the building. Besides several big buckets to get the crowd going, Transy held the Crusaders to just 3 points in the first seven minutes of the game. Transylvania looked to be aggressive at the start, getting Mary Hardin-Baylor in early foul trouble by attacking the rim at nearly every opportunity. Junior Dasia Thornton was a force in the quarter, pulling down 4 offensive rebounds and scoring 8 points. The Pioneers found themselves up 19-11 after the first.
 
It was all defense on both sides to start the second quarter, and senior forward Grace Shope got the Pioneers going with a three-pointer that brought the Beck Center to life at the seven minute mark. Madison Kellione tacked another triple on to grow the Pioneer lead to 12 points, and Transylvania was poised to take over the game with their home faithful right behind. After some back and forth buckets, the Pioneers stayed aggressive and started drawing fouls which led to opportunities at the free-throw line. Going into the half the Pioneers held the lead, 35-21.
 
Transylvania got off to a hot start in the third quarter, as junior guard Kennedi Stacy led the charge with her shooting and slick passing, including a highlight reel assist to Thornton. The Pioneers led by as many as 18 in the quarter, and were up 50-33 when the horn sounded, marking one quarter to go. 
 
The Pios started the fourth quarter on a mission to work the clock and protect their lead. They were able to rack up fouls and get to the free throw line. Guards Stacy and Kellione continued the tempo and kept the speed of the game in their favor for much of the period. 
 
In the middle of the quarter, with their backs against the wall, the Crusaders began to mount a comeback effort. They brought the Pioneer lead down to 10 at the four-and-a-half minute mark. A huge shot from Laken Ball and a steal from Thornton, which led to free-throws for Kellione, gave the Pioneers security up by 7 with 2:28 left. Transy kept working the clock, but the desperate Crusaders kept fighting and made it hard for the Pioneers to find the basket. Mary Hardin-Baylor closed the gap to just 3 points with 0:38 left, but clutch free-throw shooting from Kellione and Stacy iced the game and ended a respectable comeback bid from the Crusaders.
 
The Pioneers prevailed by a final score of 63-58 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight. They move to 27-0 in the incredible 2021-2022 season, and will jump right back into action, as tomorrow they host Trine University with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Trine defeated Springfield College 58-49 on Friday at the Beck Center to reach the Elite Eight. 
 

Hear from head coach Juli Fulks, and forwards Grace Shope and Dasia Thornton in their post game press conference here.

 
For more on Transylvania women's basketball, follow @TUWBX on Twitter.