The Malone University women's basketball dropped to 0-3 on the young season after suffering a 75-74 overtime setback to the University to Findlay Tuesday night in Osborne Hall. Three days after losing to Walsh on a breakaway layup in the game's final seconds, the Pioneers were dealt another heart-breaking blow when the visiting Oilers hit a game winning put-back layup as time expired in the overtime session in Tuesday's non-conference showdown.
 
The Pioneers had the upper hand early on and opened up what would be their biggest lead of the game when Naomi Grandison buried a three-point shot to put Malone up 13-7 midway through the first quarter. Through the first 10-minute period, Malone connected on four three-pointers and held Findlay to just 29.4% shooting before taking an 18-13 advantage into the second stanza.
 
Malone went ice-cold in the second quarter, shooting just 12.5% (2-of-16) from the field as the Oilers used a relentless pressure defense to fight their way back into the game and retake the lead. A Findlay three-pointer from just inside half-court right before the halftime horn gave the Oilers a nine-point advantage and their biggest lead of the game at 33-24. Malone was outscored 20-6 in the frame with half of those points coming from freshman Dani Drayer who made a left-wing three-pointer for her first collegiate basket midway through the frame.
 
The Pioneers came out energized in the second half, scoring seven points in the first two minutes. A steal by Rachel Goddard led to old-fashioned three-point play and two crisp Goddard passes led to back-to-back layups to bring Malone to back within four. A Baylen Dyrlund three and another Goddard steal leading to a Hannah McCue layup helped cut the deficit to just one at 41-40. Findlay, however, scored seven of the last nine points in the third quarter and led 47-42 heading into the final frame.
 
The Oilers would stretch their lead back to eight points at the 6:48 mark of the fourth quarter when Christa Puthoff's layup made it 54-46. The Pioneers scored six straight points to make it 54-52 but Findlay did just enough to maintain its lead. With Malone still trailing 60-56 with under two minutes to play, Dyrlund made a hustle play to secure an offensive rebound before dishing off to McCue who used an and-1 opportunity to cut the lead to 60-59. After forcing a missed shot on the next possession, the Pioneers would finally hit the clutch shot they were looking for as a three-pointer from Chrissie Vaughan in the left corner gave Malone its first lead since the second quarter.
 
Ahead 62-60, Malone came up with the defensive stop it needed when McCue blocked a Findlay shot with 29 seconds to go. The Oilers retained possession, though, as the block went out of bounds. Findlay used a timeout to set up an inbounds play before Puthoff's jumper at the top the key made it 62-62. Malone failed to get off a good shot on the next possession and was forced into overtime.
 
In the overtime period, the visitors went up by five when Haley Horstman drilled a three-point try to make it 69-64. Down but not out, the resilient Pioneer squad fought back by connecting on a pair of three-pointers by Vaughan and McCue on back-to-back possessions. A layup by Goddard later in the period made it 73-72 Findlay with 54 seconds to play. On the Oilers next possession, Goddard was called for the defensive foul, sending Emily Molnar to the line. Molnar missed both of her tries to give Malone new life.
 
On the subsequent possession, Goddard found Alaina Schwarz for an open mid-range jumper that she proceeded to bury. On the game's final possession, Malone forced an off-balance jumper by Horstman that rimmed out in the final seconds, but thee Pioneers failed to secure the defensive rebound. Puthoff corralled the loose ball off the glass and tossed in a shot from the left block as time expired. Her shot hit iron, but eventually fell through the net to shock the sizeable crowd and give the Oilers a thrilling grind-it-out road victory.
 
Game Highlights
-The Pioneers were outrebounded for the first time this season, however so slightly (46-44), but forced Findlay into 19 turnovers.
-Malone totaled 20 points off of those 19 turnovers and outscored Findlay 6-0 on the fast break
-The Pioneers struggled to shoot the basketball, making just 27 of their 79 shot attempts (34.2%)
-The Oilers, meanwhile, shot 41.5% (27-of-65) from the field and made 8-of-17 three pointers (47.1%)
-Malone registered an assist on 21 of his made field goals
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Rachel Goddard was credited with nine of those assists to go along 13 points, four rebounds, and three steals
-Baylen Dyrlund led Malone with 17 points and 12 rebounds including eight of the offensive variety
-Hannah McCue stuffed the statsheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, four steals, three assists, and three blocked shots
-Chrissie Vaughan was the fourth Pioneer in double-digit scoring, finishing with 11 points and two assists
-Mackenzie Storlie chipped in with four points and four assists in 17 minutes off the bench
 
Findlay Individual Highlights
-Christa Puthoff and Haley Horstman each scored a game-high 19 points. Puthoff added 12 rebounds including seven offensive boards
-Anna Hintz collected 11 points to go along with eight rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench
 
Up Next:
Malone will return from the Thanksgiving break with non-conference game against Salem International on Monday, November 28th. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 pm