WHITEWATER, Wis. - The No. 2 ranked Pioneers punched their ticket to the NCAA Final Four in Columbus after defeating the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 62-48. The Pioneers advance to play New York University, who the Pioneers defeated 73-69 last season in the NCAA Elite Eight. The win was one of many milestones on the night.
 

With the win, Transylvania not only punches their ticket to Columbus, Ohio for this Thursday's Final Four matchup versus NYU, but it extends the NCAA's longest active win streak in any sport to 64 games. It's the second time in program history the Pioneers have reached the NCAA Final Four, having done so last season.

"I am super proud of this group. Obviously when you have to go on the road and play the home team, you know how much better you have to be." Head Coach Juli Fulks said after the win.
 

Transylvania found themselves in a similar spot from yesterday after the first quarter of tonight's Elite Eight matchup. The Pioneers trailed by one after the first quarter, and one going into the half.

Transy rode a 18-6 run in the third quarter to flip a 22-23 deficit into a 40-29 lead. Sydney Wright was in total control on offense, scoring nine third quarter points to shift the momentum to the Pioneers.

"It was a little bit of the coaches getting on me, and especially Coach P. (Lea Wise Prewitt). She told me that I was stronger than everybody out there and to take it to the goal, so that's what I did." Wright said. The Pioneers led 44-39 heading into the fourth.
 

The Pioneer defense held the Warhawks to just nine fourth quarter points, while hitting free throws down the stretch to win the Elite Eight matchup by fourteen and punch their ticket to the Final Four.

The win is number 400 for Head Coach Juli Fulks.
 

"Blessed. Blessed and grateful when you get to do this." Fulks said following the win. "We've had a team that's put up a lot of wins together. That's probably not the biggest milestone of the day. The biggest one is my parent's fiftieth anniversary today.  That's probably the piece that keeps everything going. I have awesome parents that are at every game, and they have been at most of those wins and nearly all of them since we've moved to this side of the country." Fulks said after being asked about what she's feeling after reaching 400 career wins.
 

Five different Pioneers scored in the win. Dasia Thornton led all scorers on the floor with 16 points and 11 rebounds, her thirteenth double-double of the season. Sydney Wright finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Sadie Wurth was 4-5 from the field with 14 points. Kennedi Stacy and Laken Ball both finished with 9 points.

The Pioneers are now 31-0 for the second time in program history. They'll face undefeated New York University (29-0) this Thursday at 7:30 PM at The Performance Arena on the campus of Capital University.

To keep up with Transy Women's Basketball, follow the team on Instagram and X @tuwbx