Kolby Wohl
Contributing Writer


LEXINGTON, KY - After falling short in day one of the Pat Deacon Classic on Saturday, Transylvania women's basketball delivered exactly the response it needed. The Pioneers played with renewed energy and established control on their home floor Sunday afternoon, powering past Asbury 75–57 backed by team-wide scoring contributions and consistent rebounding.

Transy set the tone early, outscoring Asbury 24–17 in the first quarter and never trailing again. A sharp start from the guard line helped the Pioneers find their rhythm, with Keaton Hall knocking down an early three and Sierra Kemelgor controlling the paint from the jump. By halftime, Transy held a 40–31 lead. Their success was boosted by free-throw opportunities, making 11 of 17 in the first two quarters.

The Pioneers increased their defensive intensity in the second half, holding Asbury to just 12 points in the third quarter and holding a steady pace on both offense and defense. Transy dominated the rebounding battle 49–27, creating 19 second-chance points and preventing Asbury from building any momentum. Kemelgor shined bright in this category, finishing with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds knocking down 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Hall added 13 points and five rebounds, continuing her efficient offensive stretch. 

Transy also benefited from significant contributions by its supporting players. Raegan Barrett contributed across the board statistically with 11 points and six rebounds, while Chloe McKnight added nine points to the board. The Pioneers' depth showed as nine players scored and the bench added 14 points. Makya Grinter's five assists helped direct the offense, while the team's collective ball movement resulted in 14 assists overall. 

Defensively, Transy frustrated Asbury throughout the game. The Pioneers forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 16 points, turning defense into offense in some of the game's most pivotal moments. In the fourth quarter, a surge featuring Kemelgor's three-pointer and reliable free throws from Hall and Hannah Glisson widened the lead to 20, where it remained until the final buzzer. Asbury's Emily Sizemore finished with 18 points, but the Eagles struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm against Transy's consistent pressure. 

The 75–57 win moves Transylvania to 3–2 on the season, restoring momentum heading into a challenging stretch of conference play. After Saturday's difficult loss, the response showed the resilience head coach Hannah Kline has come to expect from her group. "I think more than anything it's been off the court. I think we've done a really great job of being really intentional about the trust that we want, the relationships that we want to have, and getting to know each other outside of basketball. I think all those things are starting to translate to on the court success … I think it's a testament to the culture that we want to have here and it's not about me, it's about us." Coach Kline expressed with gratitude.  From rebounding to transition execution to free-throw efficiency (23-for-34), it was the cherry-on-top to the performance the Pioneers needed to close out the Pat Deacon Classic. 

Kemelgor walked away with the Pat Deacon Classic All Tournament Team. "Getting my teammates going early and just sharing the ball and getting in a rhythm all together kind of just helped me get in my rhythm and we all just cheered for each other, feeling the same energy. It just propelled me to play at the same level as them … just be out there and do what needed to be done," Kemelgor expressed after receiving the award.

Transylvania now looks ahead to a challenging week as they begin HCAC action. The Pioneers will return to the court with a fresh layer of confidence, carrying forward the defensive intensity and balanced scoring. Transylvania returns to the court Wednesday, Dec. 3, against Earlham College at 3 p.m. at the Clive M. Beck Center.

Transylvania University is a proud member of the NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at www.transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.