Box Score

The Malone University women's basketball team wrapped up its 2010-2011 campaign on Saturday afternoon with an 84-45 American Mideast Conference defeat at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Cougars led 38-24 at halftime and then limited the Pioneers to just 6-of-25 (24%) shooting from the field in the second stanza as they pulled away for the victory. With the tough loss, Malone ended the year with a final record of 8-22 overall and 4-12 in the AMC. MVNU, meanwhile, concluded the regular season at 20-7 overall and 11-5 in the conference. The Cougars, now winners of four straight, will move on to compete as the sixth seed in next week's AMC Postseason Tournament.

Mt. Vernon Nazarene scored the first eight points of Saturday's contest before a three-pointer by guard Amy Kittle and a pair of free throws by guard Trisha Seilhamer ended the Malone scoring drought, pulling the Pioneers to within three at 8-5. Malone remained within striking distance over the next few possessions before a 13-2 scoring run allowed the hosts to open up a 28-12 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the opening stanza. The Pioneers cut the deficit to 10 points at 34-24 late in the first half but were unable to get any closer over the remainder the game.

MVNU's stingy defense and tough rebounding proved key to Saturday's outcome as the Cougars grabbed 21 steals and held a 51-32 advantage on the boards, with 22 of those rebounds coming on the offensive glass. In all, Mt. Vernon Nazarene scored 37 points off 28 Pioneer turnovers.

On the afternoon, the Cougars shot 41.2% (28-of-68) from the floor, 31.8% (7-of-22) from beyond the three-point arc and 67.7% (21-of-31) from the foul line. Malone countered by connecting on 30.4% (14-of-46) of its field goals, 24% (6-of-25) of its three-pointers and 64.7% (11-of-17) of its free throws.

Kittle led the way for the Pioneers with nine points. Seilhamer, forward Julie Conley and guards Ashley Speicher and Cindy Netti all followed with five points apiece off the bench.

Guard Sierra Fletcher paced MVNU with 25 points. Center Amanda Himes added 24 points, 15 rebounds and five steals.

Senior Stats: Guard Allyson Wilson ended her Malone career ranked fifth on the Pioneers' all-time rebounding list with 775 boards…Wilson also scored 1141 career points, which marked the 16th-highest total in program history…Guard Amy Kittle ranks 19th on the all-time scoring list with 1044 career points…Guard Ashley Speicher also left her mark on the record book, ending her career with 735 points which puts her 31st on the all-time list...Forward Alison Schloz and Kittle both finished among the Top 35 rebounders in Pioneer women's basketball history - Schloz ranks 29th with 320 career boards while Kittle is 31st with 314 rebounds.