The Malone University women's basketball team came up short in its first of two meetings with Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) opponent and cross-town rival Walsh University 60-49.
 
Points were at a premium in the first half as the Pioneers scored only 22 but managed to hold the Cavaliers to 25 in the defensive struggle. A three-pointer by Alahna Singleton gave the Pioneers a 22-20 lead with 44 seconds left in the first half but Walsh responded with two baskets including a three-pointer by Walsh guard Alex Hocshtedler as time expired.
 
Malone took its first lead of the second half after a Tara Schaffter old-fashioned three-point play gave the Pioneers a 33-31 edge with 4:54 left in the third quarter.  Walsh, however, answered back to take a 39-37 lead heading into the final frame. Schaffter scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the third period and combined with Rachel Goddard for all 15 Malone points.
 
The Cavaliers used a 7-0 run in the first 49 seconds of the 4th to open up a nine-point advantage.  A three-pointer by Malone's Alaina Schwarz trimmed the deficit to 48-46 with 4:31 remaining but Walsh's Kelsey Funderburgh, who the Pioneers held scoreless up until that point, scored the next six points to make it 54-46. The Cavaliers held on down the stretch to come away with their 13th win of the year and their second straight over Malone.
 
Malone Individual Highlights:

• Tara Schaffter tied a career-high with 20 points and led the Pioneers with 8 rebounds
• Chrissie Vaughan added 8 points and 5 boards
• Bri Libertore contributed 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals
• Rachel Goddard tallied 6 points and 2 assists

Walsh Individual Highlights:

• Brittni Clopton led Walsh with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds
• Jaylnn Graham provided 12 points, 6 boards, and 2 steals
• Alex Hochstedler was the third Cavalier in double-digits finishing with 11 points and 2 steals

Game Highlights:

• The Cavaliers held Malone to 15-of-51 (29.4%) shooting while converting 21-of 55 (38.2%) of their shots
• Walsh held a slight 36-35 rebounding edge
• The Pioneers outscored Walsh 16-8 in second-chance points
• Walsh hit 14-of-16 (87.5%) free throw attempts including 12-of-14 in the second half...Malone finished 15-21 (71.4%)

Up Next:

• Malone will return home this Thursday, February 4th for a rematch with Lake Erie College at 6:00 pm.