FRANKLIN, Ind. – A pair of winning streaks were on the line on Wednesday (Jan. 29) night when they Franklin women's basketball team welcomed the No. 5-ranked Transylvania Pioneers to the Spurlock Center.

The Grizzlies (11-6, 7-4 HCAC) surged out to a double-digit lead early in the first half before the Pioneers (17-1, 11-0 HCAC) rallied cut the deficit to one possession before the half. The two sides went back-and-forth in a physical second half before a late run pushed Transy to a 73-62 win, extending their winning streak to 14 and ending Franklin's pursuit of a fourth consecutive victory.

Franklin came out like gangbusters, flustering the Pioneers' offense and taking a 16-6 lead with three minutes to go in the first quarter. The Grizzlies carried that intensity at both ends throughout the opening period, going 10-for-19 from the floor while holding Transy to 5-for-19 shooting to take a 23-12 lead into the second period.

The second quarter brought more of the same and following a 9-0 run, the Grizzlies held their largest lead of the night at 33-16 with seven minutes to go in the half. But the Pioneers showed their resolve down the stretch, closing out the half on a 16-2 run to chop the deficit to 35-32 and setting the tone for what would be a physical final 20 minutes.

The opening part of the second half featured a pair of ties and lead changes and late in the period, Franklin took a 49-45 lead with two minutes to go in the half following back-to-back buckets from Bayleigh Walker and Destinee Cross. But the Pioneers responded with a 9-1 run to close out the period and take a 54-50 lead into the final frame.

Franklin opened the final quarter with five straight points and after consecutive baskets from Bayleigh Torrance and Jenna Cowart, the Grizzlies held a 59-57 lead with 8:43 to play. It proved to be the last lead the hosts would hold, as Transy closed out the final eight minutes with a 15-3 run, yielding just one field goal down the stretch.

Walker led the Grizzlies with 16 points while Cowart finished just shy of her second double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Franklin held the high-powered Transy offense to 38.7% (29-for-75) from the floor and just 22.2% (6-for-27) from three.

The Grizzlies committed a season-low 10 turnovers while forcing 18 Pioneer mistakes that resulted in 18 points at the other end. Franklin also held a 16-0 advantage in fast break points.

Next up for the Grizzlies is their final trip of the year to Ohio on Saturday (Feb. 1), when they take on the Bluffton Beavers. The opening whistle is set for 2:00 p.m.