Dalton Christopher
Assistant Athletic Director - Communications & Media
dchristopher@transy.edu

LEXINGTON, KY - Transylvania University defeated Mount St. Joseph in a thriller at the Clive M. Beck Center on Saturday, earning their seventh consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Championship and an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA National Tournament. 

Transylvania and MSJ battled back and forth in a competitive first half that saw the Pioneers lead by one at the half, 35-34. Chloe McKnight started the second half with a tip-in at the basket, but MSJ responded with consecutive baskets to regain the lead. Sierra Kemelgor scored on a jump shot in the paint to retake the lead for Transylvania, followed by a three-pointer from Sadie Wurth on the next trip down the court. The two teams exchanged brief runs through the remainder of the third, but it would be Makya Grinter's steal and fast break lay up that gave the Pioneers a one point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. 

The fourth quarter featured all of the makings of an instant classic in the HCAC Tournament, as Transylvania and MSJ exchanged baskets and trips to the free throw line, with neither team able to extend an advantage. With just over six minutes remaining, Riley Flinn drove to the basket for a lay up to take a 55-54 lead for the Pioneers, but Karlee Mills of MSJ responded with a jumper on the opposite end. Wurth scored on a contested jump shot to respond, but MSJ would successfully score on three free-throw attempts to retake a two point lead. Grinter scored on a jump shot to tie the score at 59-59 with three minutes remaining. With less than two minutes left and the score tied, Sadie Wurth scored on a three-pointer that sent the fans in the Clive M. Beck Center into a frenzy as the Pioneers took a three point lead. MSJ would score a free throw on their next possession to trim their deficit to two, but it would be Riley Flinn's three-pointer with less than a minute remaining that would seal the victory for the Pioneers, sending the Pioneer fans to their feet. Wurth and Reagan Barrett would score from the free-throw line to close the 69-62 victory. 

The win marks the seventh consecutive HCAC Tournament Championship for the Pioneers and their sixteenth consecutive win this season. 

Sadie Wurth lead the Pioneers with 26 points, 5 steals and 5 rebounds. Wurth was named HCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player and to the All Tournament Team, Sierra Kemelgor was also named to the All Tournament Team. 

"It's a testament to the work this group has put in during the off season and these last seven months," said Head Coach Hannah Varel. "We've been full-go since September 9th, the way they have fought through the adversity we faced early in the season of losing a game on the road and losing a conference game, all of which were firsts for this group, the way that they stuck together and battled through all of that together and put each other first, I'm really lucky to be a part of it."

Transylvania earns an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA National Tournament. The Pioneers will learn their destination on the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 2:30 p.m. The 2025 NCAA National Tournament starts on Friday, March 7th. 
Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at www.transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.