Morehead, Ky. - Calynn Jackson scored a career-high 16 points but the Transylvania women's basketball team was upended by the Division I Morehead State University Eagles in a 75-62 final at Johnson Arena on Tuesday night.
The game was Transylvania's first against an NCAA Division I opponent since the 2016-17 season. The Pioneers' record falls to 2-3 on the season, while the Eagles improve to 1-3.
Joining Jackson in double figures was Elizabeth Hardiman, who scored a season-high 11 points to go along with five rebounds and two blocked shots.
Transylvania opened the game on a tear as the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-2 lead thanks to a layup and straightaway 3-pointer from Hardiman.
The Transylvania trio of Grace Shope, Kennedi Stacy, and Zenoviah Walker each added buckets of their own, pushing the Pioneer lead out to 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Morehead State began to take control of the game in the second quarter, jumping out to a nine-point lead buoyed by its smothering full-court pressure. With just over a minute left in the half, Jackson knocked down her first triple of the night, cutting the deficit for Transy to 29-25. However, Morehead State scored the final four points of the period to secure a 33-25 lead at the break.
The Eagles' pressure continued to stifle the Pioneers' offense throughout the third quarter. Transylvania committed 10 turnovers in the period, allowing Morehead State to push its lead out to its largest margin of the game at 53-31.
While the Pioneers' offense struggled to manufacture shots in the quarter, Madison Kellione provided a spark by converting 6-of-6 free throw attempts. After not attempting a single free throw in the first half, the Pioneers made their living at the charity stripe throughout the second half. Transylvania went 20-for-22 at the line on the night.
Transylvania responded to the Eagles with intensified defensive pressure in the fourth quarter;. Jackson and Stacy combined for 12 points as the Pioneers outscored Morehead State by six points in the quarter, cutting the final deficit to 75-62 in favor of the Eagles.
The Pioneers will be back in Lexington on Tuesday, January 5 to host the Covenant College Scots. The game is set for a 2:00 p.m. start at the Beck Center.
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