Lexington, Ky. – Kennedi Stacy exploded for a career-high 26 points to lead the No. 12/18 Transylvania women's basketball team over the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin' Engineers, 64-57 on Saturday afternoon at the Beck Center.
The junior went off for 4 for 5 shooting from downtown in the first half to set the tone for her career day for Transylvania's seventh straight win to open up the season. The Pioneers improved to 2-0 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play while Rose-Hulman dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Stacy set career-bests for both points (26) and three-pointers made (6) in a laborious win for the Pioneers, who showed off their clutch execution in multiple key moments throughout the afternoon.
In a highly aggressive first quarter for both teams, the Pioneers nailed three triples, including two from Stacy to build a 19-16 lead after the opening period.
Stacy continued to stay in rhythm with four early points in the second quarter, followed by a jumper from Grace Shope to lift the Pioneers ahead at 25-18 with 6:44 to go in the half. The Engineers nibbled away at Transy's lead for the rest of the quarter, pulling within two at 34-32 with 2:35 left in the second quarter, but Stacy hit a timely threeball with 3:15 left to raise the home team's lead up to four.
Shope spun inside for a layup and Stacy splashed home her final triple of the half with 2:16 left as the Pioneers created a 37-32 margin. Dasia Thornton struck inside for a final field goal in the half to send the Pioneers to the break with a 39-32 advantage.
19 of Stacy's 26 points arrived in the first half on 6 for 8 shooting from the field.
Madison Kellione ushered in the second half with a 3-pointer to give the Pioneers their first double-digit lead of the day at 42-32. Rose-Hulman countered with an extended 11-1 run to cut Transylvania's lead to 43-41 with three minutes left in the period, but the Pioneers went on a 10-0 run to reclaim momentum. A four-point play from Stacy in the final half minute of the third boosted Transylvania's lead back to 12 points.
The Pioneers gashed the Engineers inside with a series of layups in the final quarter to put the game away; Rose-Hulman cut the deficit to six points with 3:45 remaining in regulation, but Stacy delivered her career-best sixth 3-pointer of the game and Laken Ball provided an inside score to raise the Pioneers' lead to an untouchable 11 points with 1:17 left.
Stacy added 4 for 5 shooting from the free throw line along with five rebounds, two steals and an assist as the Pioneers improved to 7-0 overall. Laken Ball tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Kellione added 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists for the Pioneers. `
Transylvania's defense rose to the occasion once again in the second half, limiting the Engineers to 32 percent shooting from the field.
Transylvania hits the road for its first conference away game of the season next Saturday, December 11 at the Bluffton University Beavers in Bluffton, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. from the Sommer Center.
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