The Malone University women's basketball team dropped to 3-6 on the season and 1-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference after suffering a tough 80-77 overtime loss to Ohio Dominican University Saturday afternoon in Osborne Hall. ODU, meanwhile, improved to 9-3 on the year and 5-1 in G-MAC play after leaving Canton with the victory.
 
Recap
In a competitive contest that featured 11 lead changes and 13 ties, the two teams played to a 19-19 deadlock through the opening quarter as Pioneer guards Sydney Wentling and Chrissie Vaughan combined for 15 points.
 
During the second quarter, in which Baylen Dyrlund and Holly Groff combined for 15 points, Malone ran out to a 29-19 lead thanks to a 10-0 run over the first three and a half minutes. Within five minutes, though, the Pioneers' largest lead of the game evaporated as a three-point play by the Panthers Alexis Overly capped off a 14-4 run that tied it at 33-33. Malone closed out the half on a 6-2 rally that included a last-second layup from Groff that put the Pioneers up 39-35.
 
A jumper from Naomi Grandison on the opening possession of the third quarter lifted the Malone lead to 41-35, but a 10-point swing over the next four minutes left ODU in front 48-44. Three straight layups from Grandison, Groff, and Dyrlund late in the frame moved Malone back ahead 50-48, but Ohio Dominican closed out the third period up 54-52.
 
Malone would not lead again until the 2:08 mark of the fourth quarter. After falling behind 63-57, the Pioneers rattled off seven straight points, including a wide-open corner three from Holly Groff on a well-designed in-bounds play that made it a 64-63 contest. ODU answered with a three-pointer on the very next possession before Groff was fouled on the next trip down the court. The sophomore calmly sank both free throws to tie at 66-66.
 
Ohio Dominican regained the lead with two free throws of their own on the subsequent possession, leaving Malone down by two with just over a minute to play. The Pioneers missed a game-tying jumper but Naomi Grandison was able to haul in an offensive rebound. Grandison was later fouled and sent to the line where she drilled both freebies to knot it at 68-68 with 35 seconds remaining.
 
After forcing a shot-clock violation on the Panthers' next possession, Malone had a chance to win it in regulation, but Sydney Wentling's mid-range jumper hit the back iron and sent the game into overtime.
 
The Pioneers took the lead on a Dyrlund layup early in the extra session, but the Panthers scored five straight to take a 73-70 advantage with midway through the five-minute frame. The two teams then traded baskets before Wentling tied the game at 75-75 with a corner three following a cross-court pass from Groff with just under two minutes to play.
 
The Panthers took the lead for good on a layup from Sarah Futscher with 48 seconds remaining. Malone had a chance to tie the next time down the floor, but Futscher blocked a potential game-tying shot out of bounds.  On an in-bounds play identical to the one in the fourth quarter, Groff was left open once again, but her shot attempt was off the mark and grabbed by the Panthers.
 
Following a pair of ODU free throws, Dyrlund cut the deficit to 79-77 with a short jumper, but with just 2.5 seconds remaining, it was too little too late. The Panthers knocked down one of two free throws and held on for the 80-77 win as Malone failed to pull off a miracle fullcourt-length buzzer-beater.
 
Game Highlights
-The Pioneers, who came into the game ranked 1st in the G-MAC in free throw shooting, canned 23-of-25 (92%) of their shots from the charity stripe.
-Malone shot 40.4% (23-57) from the field, including an 8-for-21 (38.1%) performance from three-point range.
-The Panthers, meanwhile, were 31-of-67 (46.3%) from the field and 14-of-17 (82.4%) at the line.
-Ohio Dominican outscored Malone 46-22 in the paint, 10-4 in the fast break, and 15-2 off the bench.
-The Pioneers held a 37-36 edge in rebounds and a 13-5 advantage in second chance points.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Holly Groff totaled a career-high 18 points to go along with a season-high seven rebounds and four assists
-In addition to her 18 points, Baylen Dyrlund set a career-high with five assists
-Naomi Grandison added 17 points, on 5-of-8 shooting, and a team-high nine rebounds.
-Sydney Wentling was the fourth Pioneer to reach double-digit scoring, setting a career-high with 15 points.
 
Ohio Dominican Individual Highlights
-Sarah Futscher scored a game-high 19 points with nine rebounds and four blocks.
-Darian Rose added 15 markers and three assists
-Megan Eyre chipped in with 14 points
 
Up Next
The Pioneers will host Cedarville on Tuesday, January 2nd at 3:00 pm as part of a doubleheader with the Malone men's team. During halftime of the men's game, which begins at 1:00 pm, the 2016-17 G-MAC Championship women's basketball team will be honored with a special ring ceremony.