The Bluffton University women's basketball team fell behind 18-2 midway through the first period and could not get over the hump as Transylvania held on for a 64-50 victory on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Bluffton slipped to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the Heartland Conference, while Transylvania stayed perfect at 8-0 and 3-0 in the HCAC.

The Pioneers hit four bombs from outside the arc in the first 4:40 of the game en route to a 20-11 lead after one period. Bluffton's defense picked it up in the second quarter, holding Transy to just 10 points as the visitors carried a 30-17 lead into the break.

Transylvania led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but Bluffton would not buckle under the pressure. Sophomore Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) and Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) knocked down triple tries in the third stanza as the home team pulled within 11 (47-36) heading to the final countdown.

The young guns continued to pull closer in the fourth and when freshman Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) dialed long distance with 5:44 to play, it was a four-point game (49-45). Angel Schneider (Columbus Grove) hit from in close to keep Bluffton within five, but the Pioneers scored the next seven points as they capped off their 64-50 win on Saturday afternoon.

Morgan Smith (Arlington) and Schneider led the way with 12 and 11 points, respectively. They also cleaned the glass with six boards apiece. Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.

Transy pulled down four more rebounds (41-37), but the Pioneers also turned it over three more times (15-12). The Bluffton bench dominated Transy with a 32-3 spread.

Bluffton will be back in the Sommer Center one week from today when the Beavers welcome Mount St. Joseph for a 2 p.m. tussle with the Lions on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021.