The Malone University women's basketball team will trek to Tampa, Florida over Christmas break to compete in the Tampa Classic on December 18-19. The Pioneers will take on Florida Tech on Monday, December 18th at 12:00 pm before battling the University of Tampa on Tuesday. December 19th at 2:00 pm. Both teams are members of the Sunshine State Conference.
 
GameDay
12/18 Malone vs. Florida Tech – 12:00 pm
12/19 Malone vs. Tampa – 2:00 pm
Both games will be streamed live at: portal.stretchinternet.com/tampa
Live Stats: Florida Tech | Tampa
 
Series History
The Pioneers have never faced Florida Tech, but they are 0-1 against Tampa, losing to the Spartans in 2003. Malone is 1-4 all-time against Florida teams, last losing to Florida Memorial in 2010. Malone's only win over a Florida school came against Warner in 2003.

Malone Notes 

• In last year's Christmas break trip to New York City, Malone rallied for victories over Caldwell and Nyack to spark a streak of nine straight victories. The Pioneers would benefit from a similar outcome this year as they look to overcome a slow start to the season and build momentum for the remainder of the G-MAC schedule.
• The Pioneers, who are now 2-4 on the year, are coming off of a pair of losses to Hillsdale and Findlay in which they combined to score just 98 points. Since scoring 80 in a season-opening win at Lake Superior State, Malone is averaging just 58.4 points per game while shooting 33.6% from the floor.
• The Pioneers are led by senior forward Baylen Dyrlund who is averaging a team-high 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Over her last two games, Dyrlund is averaging 18.5 points while shooting 58.3% from the floor.
• Naomi Grandison is second on the team in both categories, scoring 11.5 points a night while averaging 6.3 rebounds. She is 10-of-23 (43.5%) from beyond the three-point arc.
• Paiten Strother (4.8 ppg) is shooting a team-best 46.7% (7-of-15) from three-point range
• Junior guard Chrissie Vaughan leads the team in three-pointers (14) and is third on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg). She is also second on the team with 14 assists.
• Sophomore point guard Holly Groff (8.2 ppg) leads the Pioneers in assists (28), steals (8), and free throw attempts (28).
• Malone has received solid contributions from fellow sophomore guards Sydney Wentling, who is scoring 8.2 points per game and Dani Drayer, who is averaging 4.5 points while shooting 52.6% in limited minutes off the bench.
• The Pioneer offense still ranks among the nation's leaders in threes per game (8.0) and is 11th in free-throw percentage (80.9%).
• The Malone defense did well to limit Findlay, who ranks third in DII in FG% (50.4%), to a season-low 44.9% last Saturday, but they have struggled overall. The Pioneers are 296th out of 302 teams in Division II in field goal percentage defense (45.9 %) and they have been outscored in the paint every game this season by nearly 14 points a night.
   

Florida Tech Notes - Roster | Schedule | Stats

• The Panthers enter Monday's matchup with a 4-4 overall record, including a 4-1 mark in their last five. They are coming off a 74-60 win over Nova Southeastern, a team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
• Florida Tech is led by guard Delise Williams (12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.9 apg) and forward Kailyn Ebb (8.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 56.1 FG%). Williams scored a team-high 20 points in the win over Nova Southeastern while Ebb added 15 points and 11 boards, including six offensive rebounds.
• As a team, Florida Tech is 19th in the nation with 16 offensive rebounds per game and 28th in the nation in rebounding margin (+8.4 rpg)
   

Tampa Notes -  Roster | Schedule | Stats

• The Spartans are 8-2 on the season, but lost to Barry 66-56 in their most recent game last week. They will take on Southern Wesleyan on Monday before hosting Malone on Tuesday.
• Tampa is led by senior guard Karma Jeremie (12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 52.6 FG%) and junior forward Staja Tyghter (11.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 47.0 FG%). Jeremie scored a team-high 18 points in the loss to Barry.
• As a team, Tampa ranks among the DII leaders in scoring defense (56.1 ppg) and field goal defense (35.1%). The Spartans are 18th in the nation in fewest turnovers committed (12.8 tpg), but are last in DII in turnovers forced (10.5)