Demorest, Ga. – The Transylvania women's basketball team conceded a 61-46 defeat to the East Texas Baptist University Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Cave Arena on the campus of Piedmont College.

In the second game of the season for the Pioneers and their second in under 24 hours, the Tigers pulled away from Transy late in the fourth quarter after a tightly-knit contest for most of the afternoon.

East Texas Baptist improved to 1-0 on the season while the Pioneers dropped to 0-2 overall following their first weekend of the 2020-21 season.
Transy and ETBU were embroiled in an offensive gridlock to start the afternoon from Demorest as the Tigers clinged to a 10-9 lead; the Pioneers shot 3-for-18 in the first quarter against a consistent Tiger zone but limited the Tigers to 4-for-11 shooting from the field. The Pioneers stayed even with the Tigers by forcing their opponents into eight first-quarter turnovers to win the turnover margin by three giveaways.

Transylvania held tight with ETBU in the second quarter in an ensuing low-scoring frame, giving way to a 22-19 Tiger lead at the half. Grace Shope keyed a defensive effort with four of her game-high five steals in the first half.

Transylvania turned the tide in the third quarter by hitting four treys to generate a 36-36 tie by the end of the quarter. The three-point barrage by the Pios in the third surfaced as their bright spot from long-range contrasted with a 6-for-34 tally from deep on the afternoon.

Shope countered a quarter-opening trey from the Tigers with a three-pointer of her own to tie up the contest at 39-39 with seven and a half minutes to go in regulation. ETBU used its size and transition game to forge a 44-41 lead with 5:59 remaining.

Following a runner from Zenoviah Walker, the Tigers scored in succession to stretch their advantage to 49-43 with under four minutes to go. ETBU tacked on two crucial jumpers down the streth to claim a 57-46 stronghold with a minute remaining. Transylvania's final long bombs came short and the Tigers wrapped up the day at the foul line to seal up the contest.  

Dasia Thornton checked in with her first career double-double composing 10 points and 11 rebounds; for the second straight day, the Pioneers won the battle of the boards with a 54-49 glass advantage.

Shope produced a career-high five steals as the Pioneers won the turnover margin by a difference of +6.

After completing a trip down to Piedmont College, the Pioneers are scheduled to host the Lions in Lexington on Saturday, November 21 at the Beck Center for their third game of the season. The tip-off time between Piedmont and Transylvania is to be announced.

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