Demorest, Ga. – The Transylvania women's basketball team came up one possession short in its Friday evening season opener against the Piedmont College Lions with a 71-69 setback at Cave Arena.

The Pioneers encountered a bittersweet evening as they were able to launch their 2020-21 season against the backdrop of a global pandemic preventing several Division III teams from competition, but were edged in a thriller by the Lions.

Kennedi Stacy and Celia Pelfrey each scored 12 points to lead the Transy scoring effort while Zenoviah Walker was the other Pioneer to register double digits with 10 points.

The season opener detailed an offensive struggle for both teams as the Pioneers shot 19-for-61 from the floor (31.1 percent) and the Lions posted a 27-for-70 clip from the field (38.6 percent). Despite the collective cold shooting, the Pioneers stretched out a 31-22 lead prior to halftime. The Lions scored late to trail the Pioneers 31-24 at halftime.

Piedmont prepared its best 10 minutes for the third quarter, during which the home team outscored Transylvania 26 to 16, courtesy of 65 percent shooting from the field by the Lions.
The Lions carried a 50-47 lead into the fourth quarter but the Pioneers quickly jumped ahead on a layup and triple from Stacy. Pelfrey sank a trey with 8:06 remaining to punctuate a quick 8-0 run and achieve a 55-50 Pioneer lead. Piedmont swung back to tie up the action at 57-all.

The teams continued to trading leads and ties before Pelfrey buried another 3-pointer with 3:05 left to put the Pioneers on top at 67-65. Piedmont answered with five straight points to claim a 70-67 advantage with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Stacy scored quickly on a layup with 53 ticks of the clock remaining, slicing Piedmont's lead back to a point. However, the Pioneers were felled by back-to-back turnovers, and Piedmont split a pair of free throws with nine seconds left in regulation to solidify a 71-69 lead. The Pioneers were unable to muster a final shot, sealing the win for the Lions.

The Pioneers shot 7 for 27 from three-point land on the night, bolstered by a 4-for-6 night for Pelfrey from downtown in her collegiate debut. Sophomore Madison Kellione posted 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in her collegiate debut after missing her freshman year to injury. Miranda Otero led Transylvania on the glass with nine rebounds and added five points off the bench.

Transylvania outrebounded Piedmont 49 to 47 in a battle of the boards.

The Pioneers conclude their trip to the Peach State tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. as they face the East Texas Baptist University Tigers at Cave Arena in a neutral-site game hosted by Piedmont.

For more on Transylvania women's basketball, follow @TUWBX on Twitter