LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Bluffton University women's basketball team struggled to keep pace with HCAC-leading Transylvania in an 80-53 loss to the Pioneers on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Bluffton fell to 10-12 overall and 6-9 in the conference, while Transy upped its mark to 18-4 and 13-2 in the HCAC.
An Alexis Stevely (Marion/Wynford) triple followed by buckets from freshmen Karlie Niekamp (Tipp City/Fort Recovery) and Kacey Like (McComb) helped the Beavers to a 9-6 lead midway through the opening frame. Sophomore Mackenzea Townsend (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) and senior Madison Brown (Montpelier/North Central) both hit from in close on the way to a 13-7 Bluffton advantage at the 3:41 mark. Freshman Macee Heckathorn (Kenton) beat the buzzer, but Transy led 16-15 after one quarter.
Another Stevely trifecta had the Beavers within five at 25-20, however, 10 straight counters for the home team gave the Pioneers a 35-20 spread. Transy tried to put it on ice late in the first half, but Niekamp scored nine straight, keeping Bluffton within striking distance (43-29) at the break.
Transylvania pushed its lead to 69-45 after three quarters, despite four points apiece from Niekamp and Townsend in the third. Heckathorn added four markers in the final stanza as Transy capped off its season sweep with a convincing 80-53 victory on a cold Saturday from Kentucky.
Niekamp hit 6-of-11 from the field for a team-high 15 points. Townsend equaled her career best with 10 points. Brown went for eight points and seven rebounds. Stevely scored eight and dished out a career-high five dimes. Heckathorn chipped in with eight points and four rebounds, while Like handed out three assists.
Bluffton was 19-of-51 from the field (37.3 percent), but just 2-of-9 (22.2 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers were 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) at the foul line. The home team pulled down two more rebounds (33-31) and it forced the Beavers into five more miscues (20-15).
The Beavers are back in the Sommer Center for the second straight Wednesday when Manchester University makes the trip to Allen County on Feb. 11. Tip-off with the Spartans is slated for 7 p.m.
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