LEXINGTON, Ky.—The 19th ranked Transylvania University women's basketball team held off a second half push from the Manchester University Spartans to improve to 12-1 on the season, with a 57-50 win Saturday at the Clive M. Beck Center.
After building a 15-point lead in the first half, the Pioneers' momentum carried into the second half. Senior guard Nicole Coffman gave Transylvania a 17-point lead, its largest of the game, with a bucket on the opening possession.
Manchester, however, slowly chipped away at the Transylvania lead in the second half. Senior forward Alex McKenzie netted a jumper at the 14:23 mark to give the Pioneers another double-digit lead, after the Spartans pulled within nine.
With 3:57 left to play, the Spartans narrowed the Transylvania lead to six following two free throws from Manchester's Alyssa Hammond. Less than a minute later, sophomore guard Jordin Fender pulled down a defensive rebound and took it the length of the floor for an easy bucket to put the Pioneers up 50-42 with 3:03 on the clock.
The Spartans pulled within six, 50-44, with 1:36 remaining in the game on a jumper from Justine Kruger. On Transylvania's next possession, McKenzie grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and the Pioneers hit seven out of eight free throws in the final 45 seconds to secure the victory for Transylvania.
In the first half, the Pioneers opened a 5-0 lead on back-to-back buckets by McKenzie. After the Spartans had cut the lead to 18-15 with 9:17 remaining in the first half, Chelsea Pharris scored inside on consecutive possessions as the Pioneers opened up a 22-15 lead. The Transylvania defense held Manchester scoreless for 4:42 in the half, and the Pioneers extended their halftime lead to 37-22.
Coffman posted a game high 18 points in the win, along with three assists and one steal. Fender finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while McKenzie pulled down six rebounds and tallied 11 points.
The Pioneers (12-1, 6-0 HCAC) travel to Earlham College Wednesday for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup. Wednesday's game is slated for 7:30 p.m.