The Malone University women's basketball team knocked down a season-high 17 three-pointers, two shy of the school record, in a lopsided 84-42 victory over Ohio Valley University Thursday night in Osborne Hall. The win marked the third straight overall and the seventh straight at home for the Pioneers who climbed to 15-6 on the season and 8-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
 
Malone drilled eight three-pointers in the opening period en route to a 28-10 lead after one. The two teams were tied, 6-6, early on before the hot-shooting Pioneers closed out the frame on a 22-4 run that was capped by Mackenzie Storlie's NBA range three-pointer just before the first-quarter horn sounded.
 
The offensive assault continued into the second quarter as Malone opened with a 7-0 run before the Fighting Scots were able to knock down a jumper at the 7:11 mark. Rachel Goddard's put-back layup on the next possession, remarkably, accounted for the Pioneers' first two-point basket of the game and made it 37-12. Malone went on to close out the first half up 50-19. Freshman Holly Groff was a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown and led the Pioneers with 11 points at the break.
 
The Pioneers connected on five more threes, including two by Storlie, in a dominant third quarter in which they held the Fighting Scots to just one field while outscoring the visitors 26-7 to take a 76-26 lead into the fourth.
 
A three-pointer by Dani Drayer in the opening seconds of the fourth, Malone's 16th of the day, gave the hosts a 53-point advantage and their largest lead of the game. Ohio Valley managed to outscore Malone 16-5 over the final eight minutes, but Malone comfortably closed out the night with the 84-42 win.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone finished 17-of-34 (50%) from three-point range, marking the second-highest total in school history. The current record of 19 was set against Akron Wayne in 2012.
-10 different Pioneers drained at least one three as the 17 made treys also tied the second-most in G-MAC history.
-Overall, the Pioneers shot 27-of-61 (44.3%) from the field while holding OVU to 14-of-57 (24.5%)
-The Pioneers were credited with assists on 21 of their 27 made field goals.
-Malone held a significant rebounding advantage (49-33) and the edge in bench points (41-13)
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Holly Groff led the Malone bench with 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range. She added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
-Reserve guard Mackenzie Storlie was a perfect 3-for-3 from distance as she registered a career-high 10 points to go along with three assists.
-Rachel Goddard collected 11 points and four assists.
-Forward Baylen Dyrlund collected 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
-Hannah McCue totaled nine points, eight boards, and three blocks.
-Chrissie Vaughan added eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from distance.
-Paiten Strother chipped in with six points, four rebounds, and four assists in just 10 minutes.
 
Ohio Valley Individual Highlights
-Ariel Johnson collected a double-double for the Scots, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds along with two steals.
-Anee' Braswell provided nine points, eight rebounds, and two assists in the losing effort.
 
Up Next:
Malone will welcome Cedarville University to Osborne Hall this Saturday, February 11th at 1:00 pm. Cedarville snapped Malone's nine-game winning streak earlier this season. Preview notes for Saturday's matchup are available by clicking here.