Representing the Heartland Conference, the Pioneers (23-5) brought a seven-game winning streak into the contest with the defending national champion Yellow Jackets (23-6). Transy made the NCAA field for the second time in coach Greg Todd's three seasons as head coach. The win was their first in NCAA tourney play.
The Pioneers will take on Washington University, a 77-72 winner over Capital in the second game of the evening, on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. The winner advances to NCAA quarterfinal play next weekend at a campus site to be announced.
The Division III Final Four is set for March 20-21 at Holland, Mich.
Representing the American Southwest Conference, the Yellow Jackets were in the NCAA tourney for the fourth time in five years and saw an 11-game win streak snapped by Transy.
Milburn, a sophomore from Georgetown, Ky., finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Olivia Akridge added 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Senior Jackie Distler chipped in with nine points.
Transy fell behind early, trailing by six within the first four minutes, before coming back to lead by seven, 29-22, at halftime. The Pioneers shot just 30 percent from the field in the opening half, but outscored Howard Payne by six from the three-point line and by five from the free throw line to forge their lead.
Transy's largest lead in the first half was nine, the first time at the 5:04 mark when Brittany Henderlight made a triple for a 25-16 advantage. Milburn had eight points and seven rebounds to pace Transy in the period while Akridge added five points.
Katie Sarem had five to lead Howard Payne.
An 8-2 run to open the second half put the Pioneers up by 13, 37-24, when HCAC Player of the Year Distler drained a three. A Milburn layup off an Ashley Pait assist, followed by a foul and free throw, gave Transy a 16-point cushion, 45-29, with just over 13 minutes left.
The defending national champions never got closer than 13 the rest of the way. Transy's biggest lead was 22, 54-32, on a Milburn layup with just over seven minutes to go.
Hope Hohertz led Howard Payne with 12 points and Sarah Jockers added 10, a total matched by Sarem. Transy shot 37 percent from the field compared to 34 percent for the Yellow Jackets. Transy also doubled Howard Payne's scoring from the free throw line.