Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Transylvania used a big second-half comeback Saturday to knock off Defiance 69-66 in a women's Heartland Conference game at the Beck Center.

The Pioneers (9-9, 7-5 HCAC) and Yellow Jackets (8-10, 6-6 HCAC) came into the contest in a tie for fourth place in the league race.

Defiance outrebounded Transy 25-15 in the first half, which ended with the visitors on top by 10, 34-24. The Yellow Jackets had a 16-8 advantage in points in the paint and an 8-2 edge in second chance points.

Charlie Fant and Nicole Coffman each had six points for Transy in the half and Elizabeth Thomas came ff the bench to add four points and five rebounds. Transy hit 33.3 percent from the field in the period while Defiance was at 39.5 percent. Emma Starks led the Jackets with 10 points off the bench.

But Transy began to rally back at the beginning of the second half, going on a 24-9 run to grab a 48-43 lead on a three by Chelsea Pharris at the 11-minute mark, followed by a tip-in by Alex McKenzie. Transy outscored Defiance 45-32 in the second half, a total for the visitors that included a buzzer-beating three at the end.

But the Pioneers could never put the Yellow Jackets away. Their biggest lead of the game was eight, 55-47, with 6:37 left. With Defiance fouling over the last three minutes, Transy would go to the free throw line a total of 40 times, connecting on 25. Defiance was just nine of 10 from the line.

While Transy warmed to 46 percent shooting in the second half and 40 percent (20 of 50) for the game, the Jackets were at 39 percent, including a three for 17 performance from behind the arc. Transy was four of 13.

Coffman finished with 17 points to lead the Pioneers. It was the ninth straight game in double figures for the freshman and the 12th time in 13 games. McKenzie scored nine points in the second half, finishing with 12 to go with seven rebounds. Terra Lucas added nine points while Thomas notched eight points and 10 rebounds. The Pioneers were still out-rebounded, however, by a 44-34 margin.

Kim Comden finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds to pace Defiance and Kim Bingley added 11.

Transy is back in action on Wednesday, when the Pioneers travel to Earlham for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.