Box Score LEXINGTON, Ky. -
Olivia Akridge (Eddyville, Ky.)scored 24 points Tuesday to help Transylvania rally from early deficits to top Wilmington 79-75 in the Pioneers' season-opener at the Beck Center.
Transy improves to 1-0 while the Quakers are 0-1.
The Pioneers trailed by as many as nine points in the first half and six in the second before rallying back to take a lead with a jumper from Akridge with 6:59 to play. The Pioneers never relinquished the lead, going up by as many as 10 points with a minute to play.
Akridge led the Pioneer's scoring attack with 23 points, 12 of which came in the second half.She scored six consecutive points to take Transy from trailing by three to leading by three.
Senior Holly Milburn (Georgetown, Ky.)picked up her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Playing her first collegiate basketball game, sophomore Charli Fant (Glasgow, Ky.)posted 21 points, going three for five from long range, and six of 10 overall from the field.
Wilmington shot 39.1 percent from the field and made 16 of 19 free throws to 19 of 24 of the Pioneers. Olivia Waters led the Quakers with 25 points and six rebounds followed by Andrea Anderson with 12 points and seven rebounds. Wilmington had a 45-36 rebound advantage including a 25-16 edge in the second half.
Both teams shot 40 percent from the field in the first half, but the Quakers entered the locker room with a 37-36 halftime lead. Wilmington was three for eight from behind the three point line, and 10 of 12 from the charity stripe.
The Pioneers trailed by as many as nine in the first half, down 14-5 at the 12-minute mark. Transy battled back to close the gap to one by the end of the half. Both teams had 20 rebounds, but Wilmington had nine turnovers to Transy's seven. The Pioneers were able to capatilize with 11 points off turnovers. Milburn pulled down six rebounds in the first period, four of which were offensive.
Akridge led at half with 11 points and Milburn accounted for 10.
The Pioneers return to action Friday and Saturday, hosting the Sodexho Classic. Transy plays Ohio Northern on Friday at 6 p.m. with Hanover taking on Kalamazoo in the nightcap. On Saturday, Hanover and Ohio Northern meet in the first game at 1 p.m., followed by Kalamazoo-Transy at 3 p.m.
