Box Score

The Malone University women's basketball team won its second straight contest and four of its last six games after a decisive 75-60 home win over Hillsdale College (MI) in Malone's Osborne Hall on Thursday night.  The win lifted Malone to a 10-7 overall record on the year and to a 6-7 mark in the GLIAC South Division while Hillsdale fell to 6-10 overall and to 3-10 in GLIAC play.

After the men's team posted a wire-to-wire win earlier in the evening, the Pioneer women did the same.  Malone grabbed its first double-digit lead at 26-15 with 8:51 left in the first half and then opened up a 17-point lead, at 43-26, before settling in for a 13-point, 43-30 advantage at the intermission.

The visitors would not go quietly, though, as the Chargers slowly closed the gap back to just three points, at 54-51, with 9:46 left in the game.  Hillsdale was still within five points, at 60-55 with 4:52 left but the Pioneers closed the door on the contest by going on a 13-5 run to end the game and post the 15-point win.

Guard Deborah Simmers paced the Pioneers with a season-high 24 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 effort from the foul line. Forward Lindsy Snyder tallied 12 points and a team-best 10 rebounds while guard Sydnee Penn also hit twin figures with 10 points. In addition, forward Sarah Bardall tossed in nine points and added five rebounds while guard Selana Reale chipped in nine points and posted team highs in both assists (4) and steals (3).

Hillsdale was led by Kayla Geffert who pocketed 17 points while Megan Fogt followed with 15 points.  Fogt was tops on the squad in rebounds with eight.

Malone held the clear upper hand in field goal percentage, sinking 26 of 55 for a solid 47.3%, while Hillsdale hit just 21 of 69 of its tries from the floor for 35.0%.  Each team connected on just four baskets from three-point range although the Pioneers had the better percentage at 33.3% (4-12) to the Chargers' 18.2% (4-22).  Hillsdale held the advantage in free throw percentage at 77.8%, converting 14 of 18 attempts, although Malone netted more at 19-of-30 (63.3%).  In addition, Malone won the battle of the boards by a 38 to 35 margin.

Malone will be back in action this Saturday when the squad travels to the University of Findlay (13-4, 10-3 GLIAC) to take on the Oilers in a 4:00 p.m. contest. Live stats, live video and live audio will be available for this contest.