The Malone University women's basketball team, after being down by as many as 15 points in the second half, fell just short in their comeback bid at Northern Michigan University on Saturday, 61-59.

After a Tara Schaffter three-pointer gave Malone a 7-6 lead early in the first quarter, the Pioneers went on a five and a half minute scoring drought that allowed Northern Michigan an 11-0 run that put the Wildcats up 17-7. A layup and then a three-ball by Naomi Grandison followed by an Audrey Myers triple put the Pioneers back in the game, trailing just 19-15 after one.

Despite a strong defensive effort in the second quarter, the Pioneers couldn't cut into the deficit thanks in large part to their struggles on the glass. Malone held the Wildcats to just 4 of 20 shooting, but gave up 9 offensive rebounds and 7 second-chance points in the process.  Northern Michigan took a 31-26 lead into the locker room.

The scoring and rebounding woes continued for Malone as the Pioneers managed just 5 points on 2 of 13 shooting in the third quarter. Northern Michigan out-rebounded Malone 12 to 5 and shot 6 for 13 from the field, extending the lead to 44-31 after three frames.

Malone came out firing in the 4th quarter with Rachel Goddard, Schaffter, and Grandison hitting three consecutive treys in the first 90 seconds. Another Grandison three later in the quarter would trim the Wildcat lead to five, making it 49-44 with 6:26 to go. Northern Michigan held off a valiant Malone comeback effort over the final minutes that saw the Pioneers score 28 points (25 from Goddard and Grandison) in the quarter but fall just short 61-59.

Malone Individual Highlights:  

• Freshman Naomi Grandison came off the bench to lead the Pioneers with 18 points and 9 rebounds
• After scoring just 2 points through three quarters, Rachel Goddard totaled 17 points in addition to her 6 rebounds and 5 assists
• Tara Schaffter tallied 12 points and 3 assists
• Freshman guard Chrissie Vaughan recorded 4 steals

Northern Michigan Individual Highlights:

• Anna Liewen came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with 16 points and 11 rebounds including 6 on the offensive end
• 6'4" center Taylor Hodell scored 15 and grabbed 10 boards

Game Notes:

• Northern Michigan outrebounded Malone 51-30...the Wildcats collected 16 offensive boards and 15 second-chance points
• The Pioneers shot just 32.8% from the field...NMU shot 39.0%
• Malone was 7-13 (53.8%) from 3-point range in the fourth quarter...finished 10-32 (31.3%) in the game

Up Next:

• The Pioneers (2-4, 0-2 GLIAC) will welcome Lake Superior State University (MI) Thursday, December 10th at 6:00 pm in the GLIAC home opener