LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team was no match for #3 Transylvania University on a frigid Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. The Pioneers improved to 16-0 and 8-0 in the Heartland Conference, while Bluffton slipped to 12-6 and 7-4 in the HCAC.

Transy followed its usual script when it tangles with the Beavers, outscoring Bluffton 20-14 in the opening period. The Pioneers hit 8-of-15 from the field, including a sparkling 3-of-5 quarter from distance. Morgan Smith (Arlington) got the Beavers on the board with four quick markers and Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) sandwiched a pair of corner jumpers around a Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) three ball as Bluffton knotted the game 13-13 at the 3:48 mark of period one. Transy finished the stanza with a 7-1 run that put the home team up by six.

Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) opened the second quarter with a deuce and Gillig followed suit, making it 22-18, but the Pioneers regained control as they led 34-24 at the break.

Bluffton tallied only five points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth en route to the 63-36 loss at undefeated Transylvania on Saturday.

Gillig, who finished with a team-best eight rebounds, and Smith led the Beavers with 10 points apiece. Prigge and Peyton Henry (Leipsic) both came away with four rebounds and Henry led the visitors with five assists.

Bluffton managed just 12-of-43 from the field for an icy 27.9 percent shooting afternoon. That included a 1-of-11 (9.1 percent) effort on triples. The Beavers also struggled at the line, knocking down on 11-of-18 freebies (61.1 percent). Transylvania was also off the mark from the field, making 24-of-62 for 38.7 percent, but the Pioneers took advantage of 26 Bluffton turnovers. The home team pulled down three more rebounds (35-32).

The Beavers will be back on Interstate 75 for a matchup at Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-