Lexington, KY – Katelyn Smith's 26 points and Shawn Kolani's 20 points were not enough Saturday as the Transylvania women's basketball team saw their five-game win streak come to an end, 69-60 at the hands of the Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers. It was the first loss for the Pioneers since facing the Engineers in their first meeting of the season on January 2 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Transy moves to 11-6 on the season and 7-3 in conference play while Rose-Hulman improves to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in the HCAC, good for sole possession of second place in conference and two games back of undefeated Bluffton.
Overcoming the nationally prominent snowstorm which blanketed central Kentucky and beyond with at least 8.5 inches of snow in the past 24 hours, the Pioneers and Fightin' Engineers were able to forge their way to the Beck Center and play the game only two hours later than originally scheduled.
The crimson and white received another 3-point portfolio from Kolani after the senior guard notched six 3-pointers in Wednesday's win at Mt. St. Joseph; Kolani buried five 3-balls in today's contest, including four in the first half and three in a potent second quarter. Smith was brilliant all day and kept the undermanned Pioneers battling with a dazzling array of midrange drives and fallaway buckets.
The Pioneers opened the game with a 5-0 run as Sarah Ashley picked up a steal and found a cutting Kolani who dribbled in the lane for a layup. Kolani sent in her first 3-pointer of the day to score the first five points of the game.
Smith made her first contributions to the scoreboard for Transylvania with a jumper from the top of the key for a 13-7 lead with 1:37 left in the first quarter. Smith would end up scoring 11 points in the next 3 minutes and 45 seconds, finishing the quarter with the team's last five baskets, bringing the score to 16-9.
Kolani opened the second quarter with another shot from behind the arc. She added two more 3-pointers before the half, giving her a total of 10 three-pointers in the last 6 quarters. Transy built their largest lead of the game at 31-17, but free throws kept Rose-Hulman in the thick of things as they hit 11-13 from the foul line, to pull within seven at the half.
After putting up 17 points in the first half, Smith added another seven to reach 24 points by the end of the third quarter. However, she would not score again until 15.4 left in the game.
Rose-Hulman's effort on Smith was key to a fruitful second half in which the Engineers outscored the Pios 41-30, and outshot the home team from the floor 57.7 to 37.5 percent.
With only 1.4 remaining on the clock, Celia Kline grabbed a Transy rebound off a Kolani miss for a putback to bring the Pioneers within three points at 64-61. Nevertheless, Rose-Hulman would hold on for a 64-61 win.
Kristen Belyea led the way for the Engineers with 12 points, followed by Brianna Gliesmann's 10 points. Rose-Hulman earned 39 rebounds compared to Transylvania's 29, but free-throws were the biggest difference as Rose-Hulman compiled 21 points from the line compared to the Pioneer's three points off of free throws.
Rose-Hulman's bench proved strong as well, providing 39 points and playing a crucial part in a game that witnessed 3 ties and 11 lead changes.
Transylvania leads the all-time series with Rose-Hulman 17-6 now as the Engineers extend their current game win streak to nine.
Transylvania heads to Earlham on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. start with the Quakers.
For more on the Transylvania women's basketball team, follow them on twitter @TUWBX