The Malone University women's basketball team regained sole possession of second place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference with a 75-64 victory over visiting Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday night in Osborne Hall. The Pioneers used yet another tremendous defensive performance, limiting a potent Panthers team to their second-poorest shooting performance (34.5%) of the season, to improve to 13-6 overall on the season and 6-2 in the G-MAC.
 
In a fast-paced opening session, the Pioneers raced out to a 13-8 lead midway through before Kentucky Wesleyan (14-4 overall, 4-4 G-MAC) bounced back with a 9-2 run. The visiting Panthers closed out the back-and-forth opening quarter up 19-18 after the two teams traded leads eight times in the frame.
 
Malone and Kentucky Wesleyan exchanged the lead nine more times in the second quarter. Three-pointers by Rachel Goddard and Naomi Grandison sparked an 8-2 run midway through the frame that turned a 22-26 deficit into a 30-28 advantage. KWC regained the lead at 33-32 before the Pioneers closed out the half with six straight points. Grandison was a perfect 5-of-5 in the first half and led the Pioneers with 12 points at the break.
 
The Pioneers would never again trail during the second half. The Panthers pulled to within two points twice in the third quarter but Malone answered with a three-pointer by Hannah McCue one occasion and then back-to-back bombs by Rachel Goddard on the other. A steal and fastbreak layup by Holly Groff gave the Pioneers a 54-47 edge heading into the fourth.
 
Wesleyan closed to within three points (56-53) with just over seven minutes to play, but Malone once again responded with a momentum-changing run. Seven straight points, including another Goddard trey, helped Malone pull away. Kentucky Wesleyan threatened late, but the Pioneers held on for the 75-64 victory in a game that seemed much closer than what the final score indicated.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone held a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 42-39 edge in total rebounds.
-The Pioneers also held a signifcant 19-5 edge in second chance opportunities.
-The Pioneers forced the Panthers into 21 turnovers and outscored KWC 16-11 in points off turnovers.
-Malone shot relatively well overall, finishing 42.4% (28-66) from the field while the visitors were just 20-of-58 (34.5%)
-Malone also knocked down nine threes on 28 tries
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Rachel Goddard knocked down  a season-high four of those threes on just five attempts (80%). She finished the evening with 16 points, two boards, two assists, and two steals.
-Baylen Dyrlund was dominant inside on the offensive end for Malone, finishing with 19 points on 9-of-13 (69,2%) shooting. She added four rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal in just 23 minutes.
-Hannah McCue pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds to go along with 18 points, two assists, and two steals. The double-double was her 10th of the season.
-Naomi Grandison finished with a season-high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. She also secured five rebounds.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Individual Highlights
-Sydney Morabito provided a team-high 15 points.
-Jasmine Shelt added 12 points off the bench while Erin Dorn contributed 12 points in a starting role.
-Addie Reimbold totaled five steals on the night.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers will be back at home this Saturday, February 4th against Trevecca Nazarene at 1:00 pm. Preview notes are available by clicking here.