Box Score HANOVER, Ind. - Transylvania spotted Hanover a 21-point first-half lead Wednesday and the Panthers withstood all of the Pioneer rally attempts to take a 71-55 win in women's Heartland Conference basketball action.

The Pioneers are 5-9, 3-4 in HCAC play, while the Panthers, who came into the contest in a tied for second place in the league race, are 10-3, 6-1 HCAC.

Transy shot just 21.4 percent from the field over the first 20 minutes (six for 28) and ended up on the short end of a 45-24 deficit at halftime. Hanover took its largest lead of the game to set the halftime score (21 points) when Alicia Hopkins drained a three with just four seconds on the clock.

Nicole Coffman paced the Pioneers with nine points and three rebounds in the half while Alex McKenzie pitched in five points and grabbed two boards. Transy was three of seven from long range and converted nine of 13 free throws. Hanover, meanwhile, converted 17 of 39 field goal attempts (43.6 percent), including five of 15 from long range. The home team also made six of 10 free throws and had a 25-22 edge on the glass.

The Pioneers would outscore the Panthers by five, 31-26, over the final period but couldn't get closer than 11 points in a game they never led.

Coffman finished with 17 points and six rebounds while Jariana Gillespie added 11 points. Terra Lucas had six points while McKenzie finished with five points and four boards. Hopkins' 14 points led three Panthers in double figures.

Hanover outshot the Pioneers from the field overall, 38 percent to 27 percent. Hanover had a 20-12 advantage in points in the paint and the Panther reserves outscored the visitors by a 31-9 margin.

Transy returns to the Beck Center on Saturday to face HCAC rival Rose-Hulman in a 1 p.m. tip-off.