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TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Transylvania University relied on strong second half defense to earn a 58-46 win over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball action on Saturday.
Alex Botkin led the victors with 17 points and eight rebounds. Katelyn Smith scored 16 points, with Katelyn Smith adding 10 for Transylvania.
Freshman Cassidy Cain (Noblesville) tied a career-high with 13 points to lead the Rose-Hulman offensive effort. Freshman Carrie Morris (Altadena, Calif./Mayfield) came off the bench with a career-high 12 points to provide balance.
Other key contributors for Rose-Hulman included freshman Addie Johnson (Caledonia, Mich./Catholic Central) with six points and four assists; freshman Andi Evers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) with six points; and junior Kelsey Ploof (Noblesville) with 10 rebounds.
Transylvania gained an early 11-point lead at 26-15, but Rose-Hulman closed the first half with a 17-7 run to move within 33-32 at the intermission. Cain and Morris hit three-pointers to start the run, with Cain hitting three free throws at the first half buzzer to cap the rally.
In the second half, Rose-Hulman took the lead at 34-33 on a score by Johnson and rallied to within one point at 40-39 on a score by freshman Hayley Gilliam (Zionsville) at the 15:11 mark. Transylvania answered with a 15-2 run over the next 12 minutes to secure the victory.
Transylvania improved to 11-4 and 7-1 in league play, while Rose-Hulman stands 6-9 and 2-6. The Fightin' Engineers host Franklin on Wednesday.