Box Score LEXINGTON, Ky. – Transylvania, which never led until the final five minutes Wednesday, missed a shot at the buzzer that would have forced overtime and Franklin upset the Pioneers 68-65 in Heartland Conference women's basketball action at the Beck Center.
 
The Pioneers (8-4, 4-1 HCAC) entered play tied with Defiance for the conference lead. Franklin is 9-3, 3-2 in conference play, after the road win.
 
Franklin led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but the Pioneers battled back to trail by only two, 29-27, at the break. Alex McKenzie led the Transy attack with nine points and Alex Botkin added six points and 10 first-half rebounds, just four shy of her career high.
 
Transy was nine of 38 (23.7 percent) from the field in the half while Franklin was 11 of 35 for 31.4 percent. Lindsay Rich topped the Grizzlies with 10 points and six boards.
 
Transy battled back in the second half, quickly tying the score by scoring the first bucket of the period. But the Pioneers first lead didn't come until Botkin's free throw made it 57-56 at the 4:35 mark. Annie Tarkington answered with a jumper and Franklin held on the rest of the way.
 
Rich's two free throws with seven seconds to go set the final margin as Madisen Webb's jumper as time expired just rimmed out.
 
Botkin finished with 16 points and 12 rebound to go with five blocks and four steals. It was her fourth double-double of the year. Katelyn Smith led the team with 18 points and six rebounds while McKenzie, battling foul trouble, and Webb each managed 11 points and five boards.
 
Transy finished the game shooting 31 percent overall while Franklin came in at 42.6 percent, including 58 percent (15 of 26) in the second half. Rich had 16 to lead the visitors and Jess Prewett added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Rich had nine rebounds.
 
Franklin's bench outscored Transy's reserves, 18-0.
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, when they face Defiance at 3 p.m. at the Beck Center.