The Malone University women's basketball team continued its winning ways Saturday afternoon with a 74-66 victory over archrival Walsh University in the battle for the 21st Annual Mayors' Cup.
 
Three days after upsetting Division I Bowling Green, the Pioneers put together a 24-2 run across the latter stages of the third quarter and the majority of the fourth to pull away from the Cavaliers and improve to 7-4 on the season. Including the exhibition win over BG, Malone has won eight of nine overall. The red-hot Pioneers will open up Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play next week.
 
In a tightly-contested first quarter that featured three ties and five lead changes, defenses were on display as both teams were held under 32% from the field. The Cavaliers benefitted from four first-quarter threes, though, and held the lead after one. A three-pointer by Alex Hochstedler, who scored a game-high 23 points in Walsh's 62-60 comeback victory over Malone earlier this season, gave the hosts a 14-11 lead.
 
A Naomi Grandison jumper four minutes into the second quarter put the Pioneers up (20-18) for the first time in the period. The Cavaliers responded almost immediately with a 9-0 run over a 1-minute, 35-second span. Once the Pioneers were able to solve the Cavs' transition game and slow down the fastbreak, they responded with a run of their own.
 
Malone would score 10 of the next 12 points before taking a 30-29 into the halftime lockerroom. A wide open corner three from Chrissie Vaughan capped off the run and ignited the visiting crowd. By the intermission, both teams had posted nearly identical numbers. Malone shot 11-34 (32.4%) while Walsh shot 11-35 (31.4%). Both defenses did a fine job of limiting second chances as the two teams combined for just seven offensive rebounds and four second chance points.
 
In another closely-contested third period that included two more lead changes and six more ties, the two rivals played to an 18-18 tally. Walsh had the upper hand for much of the third and led 44-39 with 2:45 to go. A driving layup by Rachel Goddard and a Chrissie Vaughan bucket off a nifty inbound pass from Mackenzie Storlie helped cut the lead before two Walsh free throws made it 47-43 with 1:19 left in the quarter.
 
From that point on, it was all Malone. A pair of Naomi Grandison free throws and a right-wing three pointer by Dani Drayer gave the Pioneers a 48-47 lead heading into the final frame. The 5-0 run quickly turned into a 10-0 run and a 53-47 lead fewer than 30 seconds into the fourth.
 
After a pair of Hochstedler freebies closed the gap to 53-49, the surging Pioneers pieced together a 14-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Vaughan threes and capped off by a Storlie jumper, to increase their lead to 67-49 with 3:17 left to play.
 
While the Malone offense was clicking on all cylinders, the Pioneer defense, which was already fantastic over most of the first three quarters, revved up down the stretch, forcing Walsh into six turnovers and six missed shots during an 8:52 field goal drought. A three-pointer by Brooklyn Wooten finally ended the run with 3:02 to go in the game.
 
Despite trailing by as many 18 points, the Cavaliers made a game of it, cutting the lead to seven points (71-64) with 34 seconds remaining, but the Pioneers sank enough free throws during the final moments to come away with the well-earned victory. The win marked Malone's second over Walsh in the last eight overall tries and the first Mayors' Cup triumph since the 2012-13 season.

Game Highlights
-The Pioneers shot 12-of-21 (57.1%) across the final two quarters and finished the game 23-for-55 (41.8%) from the field
-Walsh, meanwhile, never shot above 33.3% in any quarter and ended the game with a 31.4% (22-for-70) mark from the field.
-The Cavaliers held a significant 47-39 rebounding advantage and a 13-9 edge in second chance points. Walsh collected 14 of their 18 offensive rebounds in the second half but still only managed 22 total points in the paint.
-Both teams fared well at the line as Malone made 21-of-25 (84.0%) while Walsh connected on 12-of-14 (85.7%)
-Overall, the rivalry matchup featured 14 lead changes and six ties.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Senior forward Hannah McCue once again led the Pioneers scoring and rebounding efforts, ending the day with 21 points and nine rebounds to go along with a pair of first-quarter blocks.
-Baylen Dyrlund chipped in with 15 points, six rebounds, a block, and an assist.
-Rachel Goddard was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. She totaled 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in her second career win over the Cavaliers.
-In her first win over the Cavs, sophomore Chrissie Vaughan connected on 3-of-6 three pointers and finished with 11 points. She added five rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots.
-Mackenzie Storlie played a season-high 26 minutes off the bench and did a little of everything, recording two points, two rebounds, two assists, and tying a career-high with three steals.
 
Walsh Individual Highlights
-Hochstedler was outstanding once again, scoring a team-high 21 points for the Cavaliers
Jalynn Graham and Brittni Clopton each chipped in with 10 points and two steals. Clopton secured a team-high eight rebounds.
-The Pioneers limited leading scored Brooklyn Wooten to just five points on 2-for-11 shooting, but she was able to distribute a game-high five assists.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers will make their G-MAC debut this Tuesday, January 3rd with a road trip to Alderson Broaddus (WV). The Malone women will tip-off at 5:15 before the men's tip at 7:30.