Transylvania Tops the Berg in Sodexho Classic

The Heidelberg College women’s basketball team opened action in the 2008 Sodexho Classic with an 82-62 setback at the hands of Transylvania University. Transylvania is hosting the classic in the Clive Beck Center in Lexington, Ky. The win increases the Pioneers overall record to 3-0, while the Berg stands at 1-2.
 
Heidelberg suffered a slow start out of the gate which led to an early Transylvania lead, 13-3, less than five minutes into the game. The Berg battled back and pulled within one, 18-17, following a Lyndsey DaVault (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville) trey with 8:41 left in the opening half. Transylvania responded with an 8-0 run to hold a 26-17 advantage and went on to extend its lead to as many as 16, 36-20, with 3:20 on the clock, before closing the half with a layup and a 17-point difference on the scoreboard, 44-27.
 
The Berg shot just 28.1 percent (9-of-32) from the field in the first half compared to a 43.8 clip (14-of-32) by Transylvania. Stacey Richard (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) scored 11 first half points to lead the Berg.
 
Sarah Kesse (Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain) made a statement in the early going of the second half, scoring Heidelberg’s first seven points. Kesse pulled the Berg within 14 points, 48-34, with 16:37 to go in the second half. The two teams traded baskets, keeping the Pioneers lead to 14 points, but then the Berg faced a 4:18 scoring drought and faced a 60-37 deficit. The Pioneers went on to extend its lead to as many as 28 points en route to the 82-62 win.
 
For the game, Heidelberg shot just 29.7 percent (19-of-64), while the Pioneers hit 28-of-66 shots for a 42.4 percent mark. Transylvania held a slim 44-42 advantage on the glass.
 
Richard closed out the night with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Jenny Miller (Tiffin, Ohio / Clyde) backed Richard with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Kesse finished with nine points, all in the second half, to go along with four rebounds.
 
Heidelberg, under the guidance of first-year head coach Marcie Alberts, closes out action at the classic against Hanover College tomorrow beginning at 2:00 p.m. Following its contest with Hanover, the Berg faces a week off before its hosts Oberlin College Dec. 1 in its 2008-09 home opener.