The Malone University women's basketball team came up just short in its attempt to upset first-place Ursuline College Saturday on the road, falling by the final score of 77-74. In a closely-contested battle throughout, neither team led by more than six points, but the regionally-ranked Arrows had an answer for every Malone push and held on for the crucial Great Midwest Athletic Conference victory.
 
After going down 5-0 early on, the Pioneers used a three-pointer by Naomi Grandison and a driving layup from Rachel Goddard to tie the game. Another Ursuline 5-0 run put them back on top where they remained for the duration of the first quarter. Goddard's three-pointer just before the horn cut the deficit to 18-17.
 
The Pioneers would take their first lead of the game on the opening possession of the second quarter when Grandison's jumper made it 19-18. Ursuline answered back immediately with a basket from Natalie Koenig that sparked a 7-0 run to give the Arrows their largest lead of the game at 25-19. Malone responded with its own run to regain the lead. An 11-2 stretch highlighted by a Chrissie Vaughan three and capped off by a layup by Baylen Dyrlund made it 30-27 with 2:43 left in the first half. Ursuline bounced back with an 8-2 run to close out the half up 35-32.
 
Back-to-back-to-back threes (one by Alaina Schwarz and two by Hannah McCue) on consecutive Malone possessions gave the Pioneers a 41-40 edge just two minutes into the second half. An and-1 by Rachel Goddard on the following possession gave Malone its largest lead of the game at 44-40. Ursuline tied things up at 44-44 before McCue put Malone on top, 46-44.
 
Following a three from Ursuline forward Camryn Hill, Malone would take the lead once again on a pair of Dyrlund free throws. Ursuline countered with another basket before Dyrlund knocked down a three-pointer to make it 51-49 with just over three minutes left in the third. Ursuline came back with a field goal on the next possession to spark a modest 9-3 run to close out the quarter up 58-54.
 
Another three-pointer by Dyrlund made it 58-57 in the opening minute of the fourth, but Ursuline quickly answered with a layup on the next possession. Malone closed the deficit to one or two points on four different occasions over the next six minutes, but Ursuline countered with a field goal on its next possession all four times. The Pioneers closed to within one point (73-72) with 1:29 remaining before finally making the defensive stop they needed.
 
With a chance to take the lead with under a minute to go, the Pioneers were whistled for a traveling violation. On the subsequent possession, the Arrows were whistled for the same violation, giving Malone another opportunity. Chrissie Vaughan's baseline jumper, though, was long and the Pioneers were forced to foul. Ursuline's Koenig drained a pair to make it 75-72. The next time down the court, Vaughan was able to connect on a put-back layup but Malone was forced to foul again with less than five seconds on the game clock.
 
Koenig netted both of her free throws to push the lead back up to three at 77-74. With one last chance to force overtime, Rachel Goddard's half-court heave hit the backboard and the backiron, but fell to the ground as the hosts were able to escape with the win.
 
Game Highlights
-Saturday's contest featured 10 lead changes and four ties, but Malone led for just 6:18 compared to 31:18 for the hosts.
-The Arrows were a perfect 20-for-20 at the free throw line while Malone was 7-of-11.
-The Pioneers knocked down 9-of-27 (33.3%) threes while limiting Ursuline to 5-of-20 (25.0%) from downtown.
-Overall, Malone had its 3rd-best shooting day of the year, finishing 29-of-66 (43.9%) from the field.
-The Pioneers were outrebounded, however, 35-27. The 27 boards marked the lowest total of the season.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Rachel Goddard was brilliant on the afternoon, finishing with 15 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers. It was her third double-double of the season.
-Baylen Dyrlund tallied 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
-Despite early foul trouble, Hannah McCue managed 16 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots in just 17 minutes.
-Chrissie Vaughan registered 12 points and four boards.
-In a season-high 28 minutes off the bench, Naomi Grandison chipped in with eight points.
 
Ursuline Individual Highlights
-Five players reached double digit point totals in the balanced effort. Koenig led the Arrows with 21 points and four assists.
-2015-16 G-MAC Player of the Year Laney Lewis collected 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
-Brigan Wymer added 14 points and three assists
-Camryn Hill checked in with 11 points, eight boards, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers will begin a stretch of four straight home games, this Thursday, February 2nd when they host Kentucky Wesleyan at 6:00 pm.