Dalton Christopher
Assistant Athletic Director - Communications & Media
dchristopher@transy.edu


BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS - Transylvania University was outlasted by Trine in overtime of the opening round of the 2025 NCAA National Tournament, 81-74.

Sierra Kemelgor lead the Pioneers with 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Chloe McKnight added 12 points and five rebounds while Makya Grinter recorded 10 points four rebounds and four steals. Sadie Wurth scored 9 points and five rebounds. 

The Pioneers led 11-10 after the opening quarter in a game that saw each team hold on to marginal single digit leads after each quarter, including a halftime tie. Transylvania outscored Trine in the fourth quarter, but was outscored 19-12 in the overtime period. 

With just under 6:30 remaining in regulation, Kemelgor scored a corner three-pointer as the shot clock expired, putting the Pioneers ahead 53-52. Grinter scored on the next possession to extend the Pioneers lead, but Trine scored to keep the game within two. With under two minutes remaining, Kemelgor scored to tie the game at 60-60 on a drive to the basket. Trine would respond with another field goal to take the lead, followed by a basket in the paint by McKnight to leave the score tied at 62-62 with 1:04 remaining in regulation. Both teams would have an opportunity to score at the end of regulation, but would enter the overtime tied at 62-62. 

Facing a three point deficit early in the overtime period, McKnight scored to keep the Pioneers within one, 65-64. With 2:24 remaining, Grinter scored a basket to put the Pioneers within two, but Trine would score on the next possession to extend the lead back to four. Kemelgor scored another three point field goal to put the deficit back to within one on the next possession, as each team continued to deliver on each exchange. Trailing by four with less than a minute remaining, Riley Flinn scored a basket through contact to put the Pioneers back to within two after the free throw. Trailing by five with less than twenty seconds remaining, Kemelgor would score again to keep Transylvania within three on a drive to the basket, but would Trine would score from the free throw line down the stretch to secure the 81-74 victory. 

"I'm unbelievably proud of the year we had this year," said Head Coach Hannah Varel post game. "To see how we competed after a very tough non-conference schedule, losing a conference game and then rattling off sixteen in a row and winning our conference and to be here and see the way we competed for forty minutes against a top ten team is all a coach can ask for."

Transylvania ends the 2024-25 season with a final record of 22-6, including 16-1 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC). They claim the 2025 HCAC Regular Season Title and their seventh consecutive HCAC Conference Championship. Prior to Friday's loss, the Pioneers had won sixteen straight games dating back to December 30th. 

Transylvania University is a proud member of 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.