The Malone University women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season in an exciting 71-69 victory over Slippery Rock University Wednesday night in Osborne Hall in which they entered the fourth quarter trailing by eight points. After falling victim to last second layups in each of their past two games, the Pioneers used a stifling defensive effort during the game's final seconds to hang on for the comeback victory. The win marked the first-ever for first-year head coach Rick Tice whose Pioneers are now 1-3 on the season.
 
The Pioneers were in control early on, opening up a seven-point lead midway through the first quarter when senior point guard Rachel Goddard knocked down a three to make it 11-4. The seven-point advantage would be the largest of the game for Malone as Slippery Rock fought back to tie it up at 15-15 before a corner three by freshman Holly Groff made it 18-15 just before the end of the first quarter.
 
The Rock quickly turned a three-point deficit into an eight point lead as Malone opened up the second quarter out of sorts. The Pioneers missed their first eight shots and turned the ball over four times in the first five minutes as Slippery Rock scored 11 unanswered. A three-pointer by Chrissie Vaughan finally stopped the drought on offense, but SRU continued its assault on the basket, draining 11-of-11 second-quarter free throws. A pair of free throws at the 1:58 mark gave The Rock their largest advantage of the game at 37-27 before a three-pointer by Naomi Grandison and a pull-up jumper by Goddard cut the deficit in half as Malone entered the lockerroom trailing 37-32.
 
Malone closed the gap to a single possession three times in the early going of the third quarter before a driving layup by Mackenzie Storlie made it 44-44 at the 4:20 mark. A free throw by Hannah McCue gave the Pioneers a 45-44 lead on the next possession, but a scrappy Slippery Rock squad closed out the quarter on an 12-3 run and led 56-48 heading into the fourth.
 
An equally scrappy Malone outfit battled back with a 13-5 run in the first four minutes of the fourth when McCue's layup tied things up at 61-61. Malone finally regained the lead with 3:18 to go when McCue added another basket to put Malone ahead 65-64. An SRU layup on the opposite end made it 66-65 before a clutch three-pointer by Chrissie Vaughan gave Malone a two-point advantage at 68-66.
 
Leading by two with just over two minutes to go, Malone saw its late lead vanish yet again when Slippery Rock's Krista Pietropola knocked down a deep three to give the visitors a 69-98 lead.  Malone answered right back on the next possession when McCue buried an open trey at the top of the key to put the Pioneers up 71-69.
 
After trading empty possessions, Malone forced The Rock into a difficult shot at the :07 mark but McCue was called for a travel after pulling down the defensive rebound. With one last chance after the inbound, the Rock were denied of any more opportunities at a game-tying basket as Holly Groff picked the pocket of SRU senior guard Lexi Carpenter and Malone escaped with the win.
 
Game Highlights
-After shooting just 34.7% (16-46) through the first three quarters, Malone shot 53.3% (8-15) in the decisive fourth quarter.
-SRU held a slim 35-34 edge on the glass, but Malone hauled in 12 offensive rebounds compared to eight for the visitors
-Malone committed just nine turnovers compared to 15 for The Rock
-The Pioneers received a season-high 14 points from their bench but were still outscored 33-14 by the SRU reserves
-The back-and-forth, up-and-down affair featured seven ties and 11 lead changes
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Hannah McCue notched her second double-double of the season after leading all players with 23 points and 10 rebounds. She scored 17 of her points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth.
-Rachel Goddard also recorded her second double-double of the season (and of her career), scoring 13 points and dishing out 11 assists to go along with four rebounds, three steals, and zero turnovers. Her 11 assists was two short of her career-high.
-Baylen Dyrlund chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds
-Chrissie Vaughan shot 3-of-7 from downtown, finishing with nine points, four rebounds, and two steals
-Naomi Grandison added seven points in 18 minutes off the bench
 
Slippery Rock Individual Highlights
-C.C. Dixon registered team-highs in points (14) and rebounds (8) in 28 minutes off the bench
-Lexi Carpenter added 12 points and seven assists, but was guilty of five turnovers.
 
Up Next: Malone will travel to southern West Virginia to take on Bluefield State this Saturday, December 3rd at 6:00 pm.