Box Score

A slow start to the second half handed the Malone University women's basketball team (4-1, 0-1 GLIAC) its first loss of the season at Michigan Tech University, 53-48, Thursday night.

Junior guard and reigning GLIAC South Division Player of the Week, Selana Reale, continued her torrid scoring pace in the first half to keep Malone neck-and-neck with the Huskies. Reale reeled off 15 of Malone's first 19 points in the half, helping the Pioneers to a 24-24 stalemate at the intermission.

Michigan Tech (2-2, 1-0 GLIAC) stormed out of the gates in the second stanza, opening the half on a 15-3 run. Malone went 1-7 from the field during the run. The visitors slowly chipped away at the 12-point deficit, cutting the margin to 45-44 with six minutes left in regulation. However, Michigan Tech responded with a pivotal 6-0 run to up the lead back to seven.

Junior Lindsy Snyder, who finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds, made a layup with 57 seconds to play to get Malone within three. The Pioneers would get a stop on the other end of the floor, but Reale couldn't get a layup to fall with 18 seconds remaining. The Huskies would secure the rebound and connect on two free-throws to make the final score 53-48.

Reale finished with a game-high 18 points and team-high eight rebounds. The Pioneers were efficient from beyond the arc, connecting on 5-10 (50%) of their three-point tries, but only shot 35% from the field. Michigan Tech only shot 36% from the field and 29% from three, but were spurred on by a 42-34 rebounding edge.

Malone will try to record their first GLIAC win this Saturday when they stay in the Upper Peninsula to play Northern Michigan University at 1:00 p.m.  The Wildcats will provide live video, audio and stats during Saturday's contest at http://livestats.prestosports.com/northernmichigan/