The Malone University women's basketball team dropped its 2017-18 home opener to Northwood University Wednesday afternoon by the final score of 71-61. The non-conference defeat leaves the Pioneers with a 1-1 mark through two games.
 
Recap
The Pioneers opened up an 8-4 lead midway through the first quarter on a three-pointer by Sydney Wentling. Still leading 14-10 following a pair of free throws from Baylen Dylrund, Malone saw its lead quickly evaporate on back-to-back Northwood buckets inside two minutes. With the score tied 18-18 late in the quarter, a buzzer-beating layup gave the Timberwolves a 20-18 advantage heading into the second.
 
The Timberwolves turned the momentum from that layup into a 13-point lead midway through the second quarter. A 15-4 run to start the period gave the visitors a 35-22 edge before an Ellen Doyle layup ended the run. Three Pioneer free throws down the first-half stretch made it a 35-27 game going into the break.
 
After twice cutting the lead to six points in the opening minutes of the third, the Pioneers fell victim to a 7-0 run that put Northwood up 46-33 and matched the largest lead of the game. Five straight points by Naomi Grandison cut the lead to eight before Malone went into the fourth trailing 52-43.
 
Following a Northwood jumper on the opening possession of the final frame, the Pioneers used a 10-2 run to trim their deficit to three points as triples from Chrissie Vaughan and Wentling on back-to-back possessions made it 56-53 with 6:31 remaining.
 
The Pioneers had a chance to cut it to one point on their next possession, but missed back-to-back layups. The Timberwolves knocked down a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to make it 59-53 and never allowed Malone to get any closer than six points as they held on for the 71-61 victory.
 
Game Highlights
-The Timberwolves out-shot Malone 45.0% (27-60) to 31.7% (19-60)
-Malone held a 41-34 advantage on the glass, including 16 offensive rebounds. Malone cashed in just eight second chance points, however.
-The Pioneers were guilty of 17 turnovers compared to 12 for the visitors and were outscored 38-28 in the paint.
-Northwood was a perfect 14-of-14 at the free throw line but was just 3-of-17 (17.6%) from three-point range.
-Malone finished 5-of-19 (26.3%) from beyond the arc and 18-of-21 (85.7%) at the charity stripe.
-The loss snapped a streak on nine consecutive regular season victories for Malone and 11 straight at home.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Naomi Grandison tied a career-high with 18 points to go along with nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
-Baylen Dyrlund finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds.
-Holly Groff filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
-Sydney Wentling chipped in with eight points off the bench.

Northwood Individual Highlights
-Lindsay Orwat led all scorers with 21 points
-Maddy Seeley totaled 16 points and six assists
-Karli Herrington collected 13 points, six rebounds, and five blocks in 19 minutes off the bench
 
Up Next
Malone will begin G-MAC play next Thursday, November 30th at home against Alderson Broaddus.