After leading by just two points at halftime, the Malone University women's basketball team outscored visiting Trevecca Nazarene University 26-10 in the third quarter before pulling away for a 79-60 victory. With the win, Malone improved to 7-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and officially clinched their first-ever bid to the G-MAC Tournament.
 
It was also a banner day for senior point guard Rachel Goddard who became the 22nd player in Malone women's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points. She accomplished the feat early in the fourth quarter when her three-pointer gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the game.
 
The Pioneers never led by more than three points in an opening quarter that featured two ties and six lead changes. Malone benefitted from three first-quarter threes from Goddard, Hannah McCue, and Alaina Schwarz and led narrowly, 15-14, after one.
 
In an exciting second quarter, Trevecca Nazarene knocked five triples while the Pioneers recorded three of their own. Back-to-back threes from forward Baylen Dyrlund gave Malone a 32-26 lead midway through the period before TNU held Malone scoreless for over five minutes and tied it up at 32-32 on a three-pointer from senior Sarah Raby. Malone regained the lead in the final moments of the first half when Mackenzie Storlie found a streaking Natalie Nickol with a fancy behind-the-back pass to make it 34-32 at the break.
 
Malone began to pull away in the third quarter on back-to-back baskets from Dyrlund in the opening minute. Another bucket from Chrissie Vaughan gave Malone a 40-32 lead. Following a three from Trevecca Nazarene guard Adi Hale, the Pioneers tore off on a 15-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to make it a 55-37 contest. Malone maintained the 18-point margin and led 60-42 heading into the fourth.
 
The visiting Trojans never seriously threatened in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers' G-MAC leading defense once again stymied the opposition to prevail with another hard-fought victory. The Pioneers climbed to 14-6 overall on the season and 2-0 against Trevecca Nazarene. The Trojans dropped to 5-15 on the campaign and just 1-8 in the G-MAC.
 
Game Highlights
-The Trojans' aggressive defense recorded 13 steals and forced 21 turnovers but had no answer for Malone's season-high shooting efficiency.
-Malone shot better than 50% for the first time all season, finishing the afternoon with a 54.0% mark (27-of-50) from the field.
-The Pioneers also connected on 10 threes for the first time since early December as they drained 41.7% (10-of-24) of their shots from long-range.
-The Trojans were even better from distance, connecting on 12-of-28 (42.9%) three point tries, but they were just 11-40 (27.5%) inside the arc.
-Malone held a 42-32 edge in total rebounds.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Baylen Dyrlund finished the day with a game-high 18 points (7-10 FG, 3-4 3 PT, 1-2 FT) to go along with four assists, three rebounds, a block, and a steal.
-Alaina Schwarz (5-7 FG, 2-4 3 PT, 4-4 FT) notched a season-high 16 for the Pioneers.
-Hannah McCue (3-4 FG, 2-2 3 PT, 2-2 FT) added 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
-Mackenzie Storlie was all over the defensive glass, collecting eight rebounds. She also provided six points, three assists, and three steals.
-In her milestone-reaching game, Rachel Goddard totaled 13 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, and four assists. Among Malone's 22 1,000-point scorers, Goddard ranks eighth in career points per game (13.8)
 

Goddard sits on the bench after reaching the illustrious mark.

Trevecca Nazarene Individual Highlights
-Senior forward Sarah Raby also achieved the 1,000-point milestone in the same game as she totaled 13 points and five rebounds for the Trojans.
-Adi Hale led TNU with 14 points and four steals.
-McKenzie Kilburn chipped in with 11 markers.
 
Up Next:
Malone will return home next Thursday, February 9th to take on Ohio Valley University at 7:00 pm.