Archive Video Broadcast
 
The Malone University women's basketball team remained unbeaten in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) after overcoming an 18-point first half deficit to dispatch of Davis & Elkins 73-64 Saturday in Osborne Hall. After struggling in the first half, the Pioneers played a dominant final 20 minutes, outscoring the visiting Senators 41-17 while limiting D&E to 14.8% (4-27) shooting across the final two quarters to come away with the win.
 
The high-powered Davis & Elkins offense, which came into the game averaging over 80 points a game, was well above that pace in the first period, taking a 26-17 lead through one. After a Naomi Grandison corner three-pointer tied the game at 17-17 with 2:31 remaining, the Senators closed out on a 9-0 run. D & E finished the quarter 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the field while the bewildered Pioneers were shooting 7-for-18 (38.9%).
 
Although pace slowed a bit in the second quarter, the Senators continued to have the upper hand. The Pioneers managed to cut an expanding lead to seven points on two occasions, first on a Baylen Dylrund open three and once again on a Dyrlund layup, but the visitors continued to flex their muscle on the offensive end.
 
A 9-for-19 (47.4%) shooting effort helped Davis & Elkins gain its largest lead of the game at 47-29 with 14 seconds left in the quarter. Chrissie Vaughan's three-pointer just before halftime gave Malone a hint of momentum, still trailing 47-32 at halftime.
 
After a D&E layup made it a 17-point lead on the opening possession of the third quarter, the momentum shifted drastically in favor of Malone. Head Coach Rick Tice's Pioneers, who came into the game as the #1 scoring defense in the G-MAC at 61.2 ppg, picked up the defensive intensity and limited the Senators to just two field goals for the remainder of the quarter.
 
The Malone offense, meanwhile, quickly chipped away at the deficit. Alaina Schwarz' corner three sparked the Pioneers to a 24-6 run with Hannah McCue scoring 12 points across the span. Chrissie Vaughan's wing three capped off the run and gave Malone its first lead of the second half at 56-55 with 1:14 left in the third. Three free throws by Davis & Elkins' Stephanie Wooten put the Senators back on top just before the end of the period, but a determined Pioneer squad was unfazed despite trailing 58-56.
 
The Pioneer defense, which held D & E to 20% (3-of-15) shooting in the third, was even more sensational in the fourth, holding the Senators to just 1-of-12 (8.3%) shooting and 0-of-9 from three point range. A trio of Rachel Goddard free throws put Malone back on top in the first minute of the fourth before another Dyrlund layup made it 61-58 with 7:45 left to play.
 
The score remained within a single possession for most of the fourth quarter before Wooten netted a pair of free throws to cut Malone's lead to 65-64 with 2:14 left to play. Following a pair of missed shots, Goddard was able to sink a pair of free throws to make it 67-64. After a D&E turnover, Mackenzie Storlie netted one of two free throws to put the Pioneers up 68-64. The Pioneers forced a tough shot on the Senators next possession before being fouled once again.
 
Malone put the game entirely out of reach on its next defensive possession. Hannah McCue swiped an inbound pass and dribbled the length of the floor for an easy layup that put the finishing touches on a brilliant second half and a tremendous team victory.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone finished the day 23-of-59 (39.0%) from the floor and 8-for-26 (30.8%) from three.
-Davis & Elkins, who came in averaging a league-high 10.7 threes per game, netted just six in 23 tries (26.1%). The Senators were 0-12 from range in the second half.
-The Pioneers were outrebounded 43-39 but forced the Senators into 21 total turnovers, including 12 in the second half.
-Malone was guilty of 16 turnovers, but committed just five in the second half and only two in the fourth quarter.
-The Pioneers shot an uncharacteristic 4-of-10 (40%) at the free throw line in the first half, but made 15-of-19 (78.9%) in the second
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Hannah McCue scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the second half. She added six boards and three steals.
-Baylen Dyrlund recorded a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds to go along with a pair of steals
-Rachel Goddard scored 16 points and handed out four assists.
-Mackenzie Storlie, who was tasked with doing much of the defensive dirty work on All-Conference guard Stephanie Wooten, tallied seven points, two assists, and three steals
 
Davis & Elkins Individual Highlights
-Wooten was as good as advertised, falling just short of a triple-double. The gifted lefty totaled 18 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
-Alicia Roth was next for the Senators, totaling points.
-Sydney Turner (3-5 3PT) added nine points and five rebounds.
 
Up Next:
Malone will make a road trip to the central time zone next Thursday, January 12th when it visits Trevecca Nazarene University (TN) for a G-MAC road game at 6:00 pm CT (7:00 pm ET).