LEXINGTON, KY — Transylvania celebrated its Play4Kay Game in dominant fashion on Wednesday night, defeating Franklin College 80–59 inside the Clive M. Beck Center.
Riley Flinn led the way with a commanding performance, posting 23 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Sierra Kemelgor added 12 points and four rebounds, while Chloe McKnight scored 11 points and Keaton Hall contributed 10 points in the balanced victory.
Transylvania opened the game slowly, falling behind 4–0 before settling in behind Flinn, who scored 10 of the Pioneers' first 13 points. The Pioneers trailed 16–13 entering the second quarter but quickly responded. A jumper from Hall and a three-pointer by Hannah Glisson helped Transylvania build a five-point lead, and the advantage grew to nine midway through the period. Kemelgor knocked down a three-pointer late in the quarter to push the lead to double digits before Franklin closed the gap to four. Transylvania carried a 35–31 lead into halftime.
The third quarter opened tightly, with both teams trading baskets and the Pioneers holding a slim 39–38 edge early in the period. Flinn then sparked a decisive run, scoring eight consecutive points, including two three-pointers, to extend the lead to nine late in the quarter. Hall added a layup in the closing seconds to give Transylvania a 51–40 advantage entering the fourth.
Makya Grinter opened the final quarter with a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 14, and the Pioneers continued to separate throughout the period. Transylvania built a 68–50 lead with five minutes remaining and extended the margin to as many as 22 points in the closing minutes. The Pioneers outscored the Grizzlies 29–19 in the fourth quarter to secure the 80–59 victory.
With the win, Transylvania improves to 19–4 overall and 14–2 in HCAC play.
Key Stats:
- Bench Points: Transylvania 24, Franklin 17
- Second Chance Points: Transylvania 23, Franklin 7
- Rebounds: Transylvania 49, Franklin 30
- Points in the Paint: Transylvania 26, Franklin 24
The Pioneers played their final regular-season home game and return to action on Saturday, February 14, traveling to Mount St. Joseph. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. Transylvania closes out the regular season at Hanover on February 18, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Stay updated at transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.
