Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania women's basketball team are on to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA Women's Division III Tournament after they defeated the Southern Virginia Knights 77-55 on Saturday at the Clive M. Beck Center.
Early on in the contest it was the Laken Ball show as she scored 7 of the first 9 Pioneer points. Both teams traded baskets throughout the first quarter, trying to establish control of the win or go home game. With just under two minutes left in the first quarter, Dasia Thornton connected on both free throws to put Transy up by 5. The Knights responded with a 3 pointer to cut their deficit to 2, but Madison Kellione answered with an and-one play on a layup. A three from Kennedi Stacy gave Transy its biggest lead yet, at 9 points, but the Knights found the basket just before the end of the quarter to make it a 7 point ball game going into the second quarter.
The Pioneers made quite the statement defensively to start the second quarter, as they forced a shot clock violation. However, the hard-pressing Knights returned the favor, forcing one of their own. Midway through the second the Pioneers started to pull away, shooting the ball lights out for a percentage that was over 50% from the field. More scoring from guards Stacy and Kellione helped Transy close out the half. The Pioneers had mounted a 14-point lead as the first half ended, leading 38-24, going 9-10 from the stripe and 52% from the field. Ball and Stacy led the way with 12 points apiece, and Kellione also reached double digit scoring in the half with 10 herself.
Up fourteen going into the second half, Transy kept the foot on the gas. Senior forward Grace Shope scored 8 points in the period including back to back three-pointers. The third quarter was where the Pios took complete control of the contest. As they led by 20 with 2:58 left in the quarter, Transy kept up the pace, going on a 14-2 run and growing their lead to 29 to end the period.
As the Transylvania women's basketball team was in full control going into the final quarter, the Pioneers just had to use the clock correctly to protect their sizable lead. They played smart possessions, using the majority of their shot clock. While they weren't scoring on every possession, they were chewing clock and taking away crucial time that the Knights needed to form any sort of comeback. At the end of the final buzzer the score was 77-55, as the 26-0 Pioneers keep on dancing to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen.
Hear from head coach Juli Fulks, and guards Kennedi Stacy and Sadie Wurth in their post game press conference here.
Transylvania University will be hosting the Sweet Sixteen and playing at 6:30 PM on Friday, March 11 versus the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. For more information on game times and tickets, go here.
For more on Transylvania women's basketball, follow @TUWBX on Twitter.
