Setting the scene
Bluffton College welcomes new Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference member Transylvania University to Founders Hall Saturday for the first ever meeting between these two schools. The Beavers continue to search for their first win of the season and are taking on a Pioneer program that is a newcomer to the NCAA after establishing itself as one of the most respected NAIA programs in the country in the past many years. Transylvania is eligible to compete for the HCAC regular season title, but will not play in the HCAC tournament until the 2004-05 season.
These two teams will meet again in Lexington, Kentucky on February 9. Today is Bluffton’s second straight game against a team from Kentucky, as the Beavers traveled to Thomas More (Crestview Hills, Ky.) on Wednesday night.
The series
This is the first ever meeting between these two schools. Bluffton is 15-10 against teams from Kentucky (1-0 vs. Berea, 14-10 against Thomas More).
The coaches
Bluffton is led by first year head coach Cathy Bonner, while Transylvania is coached by Mark Turner, who is in his 15th season as head coach of the lady Pioneers. Coach Turner has an overall record of 246-149 and he has consistently landed the Pioneers in the NAIA district and regional tournament. Last season he led TU to a 17-9 record.
Season records
Bluffton is now 0-14 overall in 2001-02 and 0-5 in the HCAC, while Transylvania is 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the HCAC.
Last game
Bluffton is coming off an 84-48 loss at Thomas More Wednesday night in a non-conference game. Bluffton only trailed the Saints at halftime 37-30, but in the second half Thomas More turned up the defense and forced BC into 24 turnovers and held them to 18 second half points to win the game. The Beavers were led by junior Melissa James with 13 points, while sophomore Lindsay Bacon also scored in double figures with 10 points. Sophomore Karen Harris led the Beavers with eight rebounds.
Transylvania traveled to Anderson Wednesday night and snapped a four game loosing streak with a 66-51 victory over the Ravens. The Pioneers connected on 7-of-12 attempts from three-point range to take a 37-30 halftime lead. The second half defense was just too much for the AU, as they were held to 21% shooting in the half and 28% for the game. Tari Young led all scorers with 19 points while Courtney Sears added 10 points and six rebounds. Molly Caldwell came of the bench to score 17 points, which included 5-for-7 shooting from behind the arc. The win moved the Pioneers into a tie for third place in the conference at 3-2.
The players
Bluffton lost their top six scorers from last season’s squad, which finished 12-14 overall and advanced to the HCAC tournament semi-finals. The Beavers return just three letterwinners from last season, while Transylvania lost one player and return four starters from a 17-9 season.
Junior Lyndsey Robinson’s’ 9.4 points per game leads Bluffton so far this season, while junior Melissa James is close behind with 9.2 points per game. James also leads the team in rebounds (6.8 rpg) and assists (39).
Junior Tari Young is leading the way for the Pioneers again this season with 13.8 points per game. She is also leading TU in assists (27), while junior Kelly Lewis leads the Pioneers with six rebounds per game.
Transylvania is the number one team in the HCAC in scoring defense (54.4 ppg), and also leads the conference in defensive rebounds (37.2 rpg). Bluffton’s Karen Harris leads the HCAC in both assists (4.2 apg) and steals (2.8 spg). Robinson is averaging 12.4 ppg in conference play, which ranks eighth in the HCAC and James is fifth in rebounds (8.0 rpg). Transylvania’s Young is sixth in scoring at 14.2 ppg and Lewis is 10th in rebounds (6.4 rpg).
Around the HCAC
Also around the HCAC Saturday, Franklin hosts Anderson and Mt. St. Joseph hosts Defiance, while Hanover hosts non-conference opponent Thomas More.
