Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College women's basketball team moved into a third-place tie in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) with a 55-47 win over Transylvania University during Senior Night on Wednesday from the Spurlock Center.
On a night the program honored senior Katie Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli), it was junior Lauren DeSutter (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) who led the Grizzlies with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds. DeSutter scored 11 points and made all three three-point field goal attempts in the first half. Franklin outscored the Pioneers 13-8 during the second quarter to take a 25-20 advantage into the locker room.
Brewer added 12 points, while junior Sarah Taylor (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench.
Transylvania (17-7, 13-4 HCAC) opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 27-25 lead. However, Franklin (17-7, 13-4 HCAC) answered the run with a 14-5 spurt to hold a seven-point lead, 41-34, heading into the fourth quarter.
The visitors scored six straight points to begin the fourth quarter to cut Franklin's lead to 41-40 with 7:20 remaining. The Grizzlies pushed the margin to five points, 45-40, after two free throws from Brewer and a layup by the senior forward midway through the fourth quarter. Later, Brewer made a layup to give Franklin a 49-43 lead at the 3:18 mark.
A pair of free throws by Transylvania's Ali Moreland cut the lead to 51-47 with 50 seconds remaining. Sophomore Kelsey Smith (Lexington, Ind./Scottsburg), Taylor, and DeSutter converted on free throws in the closing moments to seal the victory.
Smith recorded a game-high six assists and added four rebounds. Franklin held a 39-32 rebounding edge in the game, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Franklin closes out the regular season on Saturday, February 20, at 1 p.m. at Anderson University.
The Grizzlies will then host a first-round HCAC tournament game against an opponent still to be determined. The postseason game will be held on Tuesday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m.