By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Transylvania Pioneers were just too much for the Bluffton Beavers to handle, as they earned an 87-72 victory on Saturday, Jan. 17. The 19th-ranked Pioneers kept their undefeated HCAC mark intact, improving to 8-0 (13-1 overall) behind a 27-point effort from Katelyn Smith. The Beavers fell to 10-5 and 5-3 in the HCAC.
The teams exchanged buckets early before the Beavers went on a run to build an early lead. After trailing 8-7, A triple and a lay-in from Taylor Whitaker (Mansfield/Lexington) and another bucket from Macey Sheerer (Bucyrus) gave Bluffton a 14-8 advantage five minutes into the contest. Then with a 21-17 score at the 12:19 mark, the Pioneers answered with 18 of the next 22 points to earn a double-digit advantage. Bluffton would respond with the final six points of the half, capped by a jumper from Kaycee Rowe (Harrod/Allen East) to go to the locker room down by just four, 35-31.
Transylvania stormed out and scored 13 of the first 19 points in the second stanza to quickly regain an 11-point lead and the visitors never looked back. Following a triple from Kaitlyn Pennekamp (Hamilton/Ross), Transy went on another 11-1 run and the lead was pushed to 19 points, which led to the 87-72 defeat of the Beavers.
The Pioneers made hay on the boards, outrebounding Bluffton 40-29, including snagging 10 on the offensive end, which played a huge part in Transylvania’s 56 points in the paint. The visitors also shot a staggering 52.2 percent (35-of-67) from the floor, compared to Bluffton’s 45 percent (27-of-60). Bluffton committed 15 turnovers, leading to 23 points for the Pioneers, including 19 counters in the final stanza. Transy committed 12 turnovers in the contest.
The Beavers finished with four scorers in double figures, led by 17 from Taylor Whitaker to go along with three assists. Freshman Macey Sheerer chipped in 14, while Kaitylyn Pennekamp had 12 with six boards. Senior Mikayla Coburn (McGuffey/Upper Scioto Valley) finished with 10. Taylor Knight (Perrysburg) dished out a career-high tying 10 dimes to go along with her seven points.
The Beavers return home to the Sommer Center on Wednesday, Jan. 20, as they take on the Manchester University Spartans. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Come support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
