The Malone University women's basketball team opened up the 2016-17 season with 70-63 road loss to Lake Erie College Friday night in the debut of first-year head coach
Rick Tice.
Division I transfer
Hannah McCue made her presence felt early on in her first game with the Pioneers as the fifth-year senior drained a three-pointer on Malone's opening possession. Fellow transfer
Baylen Dyrlund gave Malone a 5-0 lead moments later when she made her first shot as a Pioneer. An and-1 opportunity by Dyrlund put Malone ahead 8-2 later in the quarter, but the six-point lead quickly vanished as a scrappy Lake Erie squad took advantage of Malone's six first-quarter turnovers and closed out the period with a 14-7 run.
The momentum continued for the Storm as they outscored Malone 23-11 in the second quarter. The Pioneers struggled offensively, turning the ball over five more times in the frame and shooting just 4-of-14 (28.6%) from the field, including an abysmal 0-of-7 from three point range. Lake Erie, meanwhile, finished 10-of-17 (58.8%) in the quarter to open up a 39-26 halftime lead.
Down but not out, coach Tice's club responded after halftime to outscore Lake Erie 22-11 in the third quarter thanks in large part to an outstanding individual performance by transfer
Paiten Strother. The sophomore sharpshooter scored 11 straight points for the Pioneers during an early stretch in the frame to trim the deficit to just three points at 39-42.
Senior point guard
Rachel Goddard then went on a tear of her own, scoring Malone's final eight points of the quarter. After trailing by 13 points to start the second half, the Pioneers regained the lead when Goddard's layup with 48 seconds left in the quarter put Malone on top 47-46. Two late Lake Erie buckets surrounding a Malone free throw gave the hosts a 50-48 advantage heading into the final frame.
Still down in the fourth quarter. Strother's fourth three-pointer of the half cut the deficit to one point with a tick over eight minutes remaining but the Pioneers failed to ever recapture the lead. The Storm made just enough timely shots and 10 fourth-quarter free throws to hang on to the season-opening victory.
Game Highlights
-Malone shot just 34.5% (19-55) from the floor and 25% (8-32) from three-point range
-Lake Erie shot 44.1% (26-59) from the field and outscored Malone 32-18 in the paint
-The Storm also outscored Malone 29-4 off the bench and 20-14 off of turnovers
-The Pioneers held a slim 40-36 advantage in rebounding
Malone Individual Highlights
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Hannah McCue recorded a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with two blocks and two assists
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Rachel Goddard led Malone with 17 points (5-13 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5-6 FT) and game-high five assists. She scored 14 of her 17 in the second half
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Paiten Strother scored all 14 of her points in the second half. She added seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action
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Baylen Dyrlund contributed 15 points and five boards in 24 minutes.
Lake Erie Individual Highlights
-Kayla Gabor scored a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal
-Brianna Shagovac recorded 10 points and three assists in 18 minutes off the bench
-Christine Dawson checked in with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals
Up Next
Malone will have to regroup quickly as it takes on a talented Division I Akron team on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
