Women’s Basketball Takes Down Transylvania

The Anderson University women's basketball team took down the seven-time defending Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) champion Transylvania University with a 66-65 double-overtime victory during Saturday's HCAC matchup in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.

Anderson (6-6, 2-3) has fallen in its 11 previous meetings since Transylvania (9-3, 4-1). The Ravens topped Transylvania 60-52 on Jan. 30, 2021. In the stretch between Jan. 30, 2021 and Saturday, Transylvania has only suffered one loss to an HCAC opponent.

Transylvania steadily built a 19-13 to carry through the first quarter. As the Ravens cut the deficit to 19-17, Keaton Hall hit a 3-pointer to give Transylvania a 22-17 lead. The Pioneers led the Ravens 27-21 at halftime.

Transylvania opened the second half with a 5-0 run to take a 32-21 lead with 8 minutes, 40 seconds left in the third quarter. The Ravens continued to trim the deficit to 42-37 through three quarters.

Hannah Glisson knocked down a 3-pointer to put Transylvania ahead 45-37 with 8:41 in regulation. The Ravens responded with an 11-2 run during the next 6:46. Lauren Smith made a pair of free throws, Sydney Sierota provided the next five points and Bella Larrison followed up with consecutive layups.

With 34 seconds remaining, Makaya Grinter recorded a steal for the Pioneers, but Larrison immediately came from behind for a steal of her own. She was fouled in the double bonus and split her free throws. Trailing 49-47, Sierra Kemelgor missed the game-tying basket with 20 seconds remaining, but following an Anderson timeout, Hannah Glisson stole the inbound pass for the Pioneers. Reagan Barrett missed the 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining and Anderson got the rebound.

Transylvania needed to commit two fouls down the stretch, which also came at the expense of the team's leading scorer entering the game Kemelgor picking up her fifth foul. The Pioneers benefitted from four missed free throws by Anderson, giving the Pioneers one last possession at the end of regulation. Riley Flinn was fouled on the shot with 1.8 seconds remaining and she made both of her free throws to tie the game at 49-all. During Anderson's comeback, Transylvania was held to 2-of-14 (14.2-percent) shooting from the field in the fourth quarter.

During the opening play of the first overtime, Anderson took a blow as the team's leading scorer entering the game Izzy Davis suffered an injury and was sidelined for the remainder of the game. Larrison made a pair of layups to put Anderson ahead 53-49 with 2:30 left in the first overtime. A layup from Chloe McKnight and a pair of free throws from Barrett even the score at 53-53 with 1:35 left in the first overtime. Sierota came up with a steal and completed a bucket-and-1 to put Anderson ahead 56-53 with 53 seconds left in the first overtime. On the following possession, Glisson drained a 3-pointer to even the score at 56-56. After the Pioneers came up with a stop, Flinn's attempt at a go-ahead layup was swatted by Victoria Detraz with two seconds remaining. Transylvania could not get a good look and the game entered a second overtime.

Flinn, Transylvania's second leading scorer, opened the second overtime with a 3-pointer for the Pioneers. Ashley Pate made a basket to cut Transylvania's lead to one. Flinn drained a three to give Transylvania a 62-58 lead, but picked up her fifth foul on a taunting technical. Pate split her free throws to make the score 62-59. After each team had a scoreless possession, Larrison knocked down two free throws to cut the lead to one. McKnight was fouled and split a pair of free throws. Sierota would even the game at 63-all with a layup with 1:42 to go. After Anderson got a stop on the next possession, Detraz completed a bucket-and-1 to give Anderson a 66-63 lead with 55 seconds to go.

McKnight provided a putback layup to make the score 66-65 with 41 seconds to go. After a missed basket by Anderson, Grinter went to the line for two free throws and missed both. Grinter then came up with a steal with 12 seconds remaining to give Transylvania one more chance. As the final second ticked, Grinter received the pass at the top of the key, drove to the right of the lane, put up a 12-foot floater with one second remaining and the shot came up empty, sealing the win for the Ravens.

"Obviously, it was a great team win," Coach Jon Gin said. "I think we showed everyone what this group is capable of."

Transylvania outrebounded Anderson 56-49. The Pioneers held a 23-11 advantage in offensive rebounding and held a 21-9 advantage in second-chance points. Anderson turned the ball over 24 times while Transylvania committed 21 turnovers. Despite finishing minus-3 on turnovers, the Ravens outscored the Pioneers 26-16 off turnovers. Both teams struggled from the free-throw line as Anderson converted 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) shots while Transylvania made 7-of-14 (50 percent) attempts.

"It was nowhere near a perfect game. We had way too many turnovers, gave up too many offensive rebounds and couldn't hit a free throw down the stretch. But, we fought on every possession, our defense stuck to the scout and our bench did an excellent job of bringing the energy."

Despite taking 16 fewer field-goal attempts, Anderson finished with two more field goal makes than Transylvania. The Ravens converted 25-of-65 (38.5 percent) shots from the field while the Pioneers hit 23-of-81 (28.4 percent) attempts from the floor. Transylvania put up 49 3-point field-goal attempts and made 12 (24.5 percent). Anderson knocked down 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) shots from the perimeter.

The Ravens outscored the Pioneers 7-2 on fast-break points. Anderson also held a 16-14 advantage in bench points.

Sierota filled the stat sheet with 20 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Larrison provided 20 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one block. Detraz contributed five points, 12 rebounds and one block. Pate matched her career high of eight points. The freshman from West Chester, Ohio added two steals. Davis turned in seven rebounds and three assists. Smith produced five points and one block. Paige Williamson added six points. Kylie Hendrickson rounded out Anderson's scoring with two points, four rebounds and two steals.

Barrett led the Pioneers with 19 points. Glisson notched 18 rebounds and three steals. Flinn contributed 13 points and four steals. Hall pulled down 10 rebounds and Grinter collected five steals. Barrett and Grinter each blocked shots.

Anderson capped off a 3-0 week. The Ravens earned a 79-73 home win against Illinois College (5-7) on Tuesday. Anderson then secured a 57-52 road win against Concordia University Chicago (4-8) on Wednesday in River Forest, Ill.

"Our last three games haven't been pretty, but our squad is learning and growing together, and we are pulling out some gritty wins."

Anderson battles Bluffton University (5-7, 1-4) in HCAC action on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. in Bluffton, Ohio.

"I'm proud of this group. I'm thankful for all of the fans that came out [on Saturday]. We've got another tough HCAC road test on Wednesday."