The Malone University women's basketball team scored 72 of its 82 points over the final three quarters to pull away from Kentucky Wesleyan College and earn an important Great Midwest Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon on the road. The 82-69 win marked the 9th straight overall for the Pioneers who improved to 4-0 in the G-MAC and 11-4 on the season. Kentucky Wesleyan, who entered the week ranked among the top-30 in NCAA DII, fell to 11-3 on the year and 2-2 in conference.
 
Scoring was scarce for both teams over much of opening quarter as there seemed to be lids on the baskets of the Owensboro Sportscenter. Malone collected just two field goals through the first 10 minutes as a Rachel Goddard layup at the 5:29 mark and a Baylen Dylrund 15-foot jumper at the 3:39 mark accounted for the Pioneers' first four points. Six late free throws allowed the Pioneers to reach double-digits. The host Panthers collected just 11 first-quarter points on 5-of-20 shooting as Malone's G-MAC-leading defense continued to frustrate its opposition into a number of hurried shots.
 
Buckets finally started to fall for the Pioneers in the second stanza. Baylen Dyrlund's layup at the 8:03 point gave Malone its first lead (14-13) of the game. A modest 8-2 run featuring a three-pointer by Chrissie Vaughan and an old-fashioned three-point play by Rachel Goddard put Malone up 24-17, before KWC used a trio of treys to tie the game at 28-28 with 2:06 left in the half. A three-pointer by Dani Drayer on the very next possession proved to be the game-winner as Malone led for the remainder of the contest. The Pioneers finished 10-of-18 (55.6%) in the quarter and led 35-28 at the intermission.
 
In an up-tempo third-quarter, the Pioneers fared even better offensively, shooting 10-of-17 (58.8%), but they struggled to slow the Panthers' improving offensive attack. After falling behind 46-36 on a Hannan McCue three-pointer, KWC cut the deficit to two at 50-48 with 2:33 left in the quarter. McCue responded with a three-pointer and then a perfectly executed lob pass to Dyrlund who converted an and-1 to go ahead 56-48.
 
The Panthers closed to within two points once again moments later, but another and-1 by Holly Groff in the final seconds of the period gave Malone some breathing room. Groff, who was making her first career start in the contest, split two defenders with a behind-the-back dribble before finishing with a difficult layup. Her free throw made it 61-56 heading into the fourth.
 
Malone seemingly couldn't miss during the first six minutes of the final quarter. The Pioneers used a 15-4 run, that included a stretch of six straight possessions with made field goals, to grow their lead to 76-60 and effectively put the game out of reach. As they have in each of their previous eight victories, the Pioneers outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter for the ninth-straight game, this time using a 21-13 tally in Saturday's final frame to close out the 82-69 win.  
 
Game Highlights
-After shooting just 2-of-12 (16.7%) in the first quarter, Malone knocked down 58.3% (28-of-48) of its shots over the final three. The 50% overall shooting average was the highest of the season.
-Kentucky Wesleyan finished 29-of-75 (38.7%) in the contest and 8-of-30 (26.7%) from distance.
-Rebounds for both teams were even at 39-39 as were points in the paint (40-40). KWC led Malone 19-9 in bench points and 12-2 in second chances.
-Following an uncharacteristic 55% free throw shooting number at Trevecca Nazarene, Malone bounced back to shoot 88.2% (15-17) from the free throw line on Saturday.
-The Pioneers also cut their season-high 23 turnovers on Thursday to just 11 against KWC.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Baylen Dyrlund tied a season-high with 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting. She added seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
-Rachel Goddard collected 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists. The G-MAC's 2nd-ranked free throw shooter was a perfect 7-of-7 at the line.
-Chrissie Vaughan, who collected her first-career double-double on Thursday, came close to another, finishing with 13 points (3-6 3 PT) and nine rebounds.
-Hannah McCue, who sat for much of the first half with foul trouble, scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half. She added six rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots.
-Holly Groff finished with seven points, four rebounds, and two assists
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Individual Highlights
-Senior guard Brittany Wells, who came in ranked 2nd in the G-MAC in scoring (19.4 ppg) and shooting (55.1%), was held by the Pioneers to 14 points on 5-14 (35.7%) shooting
-Jennifer Walker-Crawford added 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals
-Bria Wright collected eight points and team-high nine rebounds, including five offensive boards.
 
Up Next:
Malone will be on the road against next weekend for two G-MAC contests. The Pioneers will visit Cedarville on January 19th before traveling to Ohio Valley on the 21st.