Archived Video Broadcast

The Malone University women's basketball team overcame a 13-point deficit in the final six minutes to earn the victory over fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) foe Lake Erie College 61-57.
 
In a tightly contested first half that featured seven ties and seven lead changes, neither team could pull away. With 4:21 remaining in the second quarter, a three-pointer by freshman guard Chrissie Vaughan gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the game at 28-23, but the five-point lead was quickly erased by a 7-0 Lake Erie run. Alaina Schwarz buried her third triple of the half with 15 seconds left to give Malone a 31-30 edge going into the break.
 
Back-to back buckets by the Storm's Shelby Carpenter and Kaeding Skelton opened the second-half scoring before Malone's Natalie Nickol tied it up at 34-34, hitting a three-ball on her first shot attempt of the game. The Storm would pick up the defensive intensity, limiting Malone to just 3-of-12 shooting and forcing eight turnovers in the third quarter, closing the frame on a 15-5 run.
 
Lake Erie stretched its lead to 52-39 on a Kayla Gabor three-pointer in the first minute of the final stanza. After nearly four minutes of scoreless basketball, Tara Schaffter came through for the Pioneers, knocking down a trey at 5:56 mark to make it 52-42. The Storm's Christine Dawson made it a 54-42 game with 4:35 left to play.
 
Malone fought back, bringing their own defensive intensity, holding Lake Erie to 1-for-7 shooting and forcing the Storm into three turnovers in the final four minutes. Meanwhile, the Pioneers scored on all eight of their final possessions. Back-to-back three-pointers by Chrissie Vaughan and Alahna Singleton, sandwiched by two Bri Libertore jumpers cut the advantage to 54-52 with 2:27 left. Two free throws by Tara Schaffter tied it up at 54-54 before Vaughan nailed another three to complete the 15-0 run and give Malone a 57-54 lead.
 
Down three with 53 seconds to go, Lake Erie's Sami Narducci connected on her own three to tie it at 57-57. On the next possession, junior guard Rachel Goddard found the perfect time to make her first three of the game, drilling a 22-footer to give Malone a 60-57 edge. Lake Erie failed to score on its next chance and was forced to foul. Goddard hit one of two at the line to put the game out of reach.

Malone Individual Highlights:

• Chrissie Vaughan recorded 4 steals, bucketed 4 three-pointers, and tied a team-high with 14 points
• Senior forward Tara Schaffter registered 14 points, 7 rebounds, and a career-high 6 assists
• Goddard added a team-high 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 6 points - none bigger than the four in the final minute
• Junior guard Alaina Schwarz knocked down three triples to finish with 9 points

Lake Erie Individual Highlights:

• Forward Christine Dawson led a trio of Storm with a dozen points apiece, finishing with 12 points, a game-high 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks
• Guard Shelby Carpenter netted 12 points, a team-high 4 assists, and 2 steals
• Kayla Gabor chipped in with 12 points and 2 steals

Game Highlights:

• The Pioneers drained 12-of-32 (37.5%) from three-point range, including five treys in the decisive fourth quarter
• The Storm were 7-of-23 (30.4%) from deep but just 2-of-9 in the final frame
• Lake Erie forced Malone into 20 turnovers, recording 8 steals... the Pioneers recorded 10 steals and 15 forced turnovers
• Malone held a 37-31 advantage on the glass
• The Pioneers avenged a previous 52-46 loss to Storm earlier this year

Up Next:

• Malone (6-15, 3-13 GLIAC) will travel to Ashland (21-1, 15-1 GLIAC) on Saturday, February 6th for 1:00 pm game with the nationally-ranked Eagles. Preview notes are available here.