Archived Video Broadcast

The Malone University women's basketball team shot over 50% for just the third time this season and came away with the 72-69 victory over Wayne State University (MI) Thursday night in Osborne Hall.
 
After leading 20-15 after one quarter, the visiting Warriors would open up their largest lead of the game at 32-20 midway through the second quarter. A 13-2 Malone run would bring the Pioneers within one point at 34-33. Despite shooting 52.2% (12-of-23) from the floor in the first 20 minutes, Malone committed 13 first-half turnovers and trailed going 37-34 into break.
 
Senior forward Tara Schaffter, who had a team-high 11 points at the half, scored the first seven Pioneer points of the third quarter to give Malone a 41-39 lead.  The Pioneers would hit 8-of-8 free throws in an exciting third quarter that featured three ties and 11 lead changes. Malone took a 55-53 advantage into the 4th quarter.
 
Two consecutive fast break layups from Chrissie Vaughan on two well-executed passes from Rachel Goddard and Alahna Singleton capped off an 8-0 stretch that gave Malone a 61-53 lead early in the 4th. Later in the quarter, the Pioneers would extend their lead to 68-59 on a Bri Libertore layup. The aptly named Warriors would battle back to cut the deficit to 68-67 before a timely three-point play by Goddard put Malone up 71-67.
 
Wayne State's Shannon Wilson would hit a contested layup that cut the deficit again to a single possession at 71-69 with 24 seconds left. On the following possession, Goddard would hit one-of-two at the line leaving Wayne State with the chance to tie. With three seconds remaining, Wilson had a good look at the basket, but her three-point attempt was off the mark and hauled in by Schaffter. The defensive rebound secured Malone's 8th win of the season and avenged an earlier 71-63 loss to the Warriors.
 
Malone Individual Highlights:

• Schaffter surpassed her previous career-high of 20 points, finishing with 22 points on 9-15 shooting
• Junior guard Rachel Goddard delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 17 points while dishing out five assists
• Senior forward Bri Libertore posted her 5th career double-double with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with four assists and two steals
• Starting guards Chrissie Vaughan and Alaina Schwarz added nine points and two steals apiece...Vaughan added five boards

Wayne State Individual Highlights:

• Shannon Wilson scored a game-high 17 points for the Warriors
• Forward Ashley Wilson recorded 13 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench
• Forward Brooke Wallace totaled 10 points and six boards

Game Highlights:

• Malone held Wayne State to 38.2% (26-68) shooting while knocking down 51.0% (25-49) of their own shots
• The Pioneers held a 37-33 rebounding edge and outscored the Warriors 9-3 in the fast break
• Wayne State converted 21 turnovers into 16 points and outscored Malone 16-2 on second-chance points
• The win marked just the second victory over Wayne State in eight all-time tries

Up Next:

• The Pioneers will travel to Findlay to meet the Oilers on Saturday, February 20th at 1:00 pm. Preview notes are available here.