Defiance tamed by No. 3 Transylvania
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Transylvania Pioneers continued their undefeated start to the season when the No. 3 team in Division III took down the Defiance College Yellow Jackets on their home floor, 70-40.
The Yellow Jackets (6-7, 1-4 HCAC) lost their second in a row after being held to a season-low 40 points by the Pioneers (14-0, 6-0 HCAC), which sports the third-best defensive team in the country.
Transylvania built a 10-point lead through the first quarter with five 3-pointers but the Yellow Jackets did not allow the Pioneers to run away until a 10-0 run over the final 4:38 of the second quarter. Transylvania outscored Defiance 15-5 in the second period as Defiance went cold from the floor, shooting just 2-for-11 after an 8-for-13 start to the game.
Despite letting up 11 3-pointers by Transylvania compared to two long-range makes by Defiance, the Pioneers outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 49-24.
Lexie Sparks was the only Yellow Jacket to hit double figures while Transy sported four, which were their four returning All-HCAC players. Laken ball led the way with 18 after she added a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter. She also brought in six boards. Dasia Thornton posted 10 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Madison Kellione drained four 3-pointers for a dozen total points while Kennedi Stacy hit a trio of triples and totaled 13 points.
The Yellow Jackets return to action with another HCAC contest at Anderson on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
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