Needing a win in the worst of ways, the Malone University women's basketball team came away with an impressive home victory over Lake Erie College Thursday night in Osborne Hall. The Pioneers scored a season-high 86 points, including 30 in the second quarter, to earn a well-deserved 86-77 victory over the visiting Storm. With the win, Malone improved to 5-8 on the season and 3-6 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. While the Pioneers climbed into a tie for 8th place in the G-MAC standings, Lake Erie (7-7 overall, 4-5 G-MAC) remained in 7th place, just one spot ahead of Malone.
 
Recap
Despite scoring a season-high on Thursday night, Malone was held scoreless until the 5:40 mark of the first quarter when a Baylen Dyrlund layup ended an 8-0 Lake Erie run. By the 2:34 mark, the Pioneers had fallen behind 15-6 and faced what would be their largest deficit of the game. From there, though, Malone went on an offensive tear. Six straight points, including a three-pointer from Paiten Strother in the waning seconds of the first quarter, trimmed the deficit to 15-12 after one.

The Pioneers then outscored Lake Erie 30-14 in the second quarter, using an exciting display of up-tempo offense matched with a relentless defensive effort. Malone managed its first lead of the game on a basket from Keri Hill midway through the period before a driving layup from Sydney Wentling and a three-point play from Holly Groff following a circus layup two possessions later put Malone in front for good.

By halftime, the Pioneers had opened up a 42-29 lead thanks to 14 forced turnovers, 16 points off of those turnovers, and 12 points on second chances.

The Storm committed just two turnovers in the second half, but Malone was still able to expand its lead thanks to four third-quarter triples. A Chrissie Vaughan three-ball, her second of the quarter, with 3:30 left in the frame gave Malone its largest lead of the game at 60-38.

Another three-pointer by Sydney Wentling and a 15-foot jumper from Vaughan put the Pioneers on top 75-54 with 6:33 left in the fourth before the visitors began to charge back. Lake Erie used a 23-9 run over the next six minutes to cut the lead to seven points, but it was too little too late as Malone's early cushion proved to be enough to weather the Storm.

Game Highlights
-Malone shot a season-high 46.7% (28-for-60) from the field, including a 9-for-21 (42.9%) effort from three-point range. During the second half, the Pioneers were 14-of-23 from the field and 6-of-7 from beyond the arc.
-The 86 points were the most scored by the Pioneers, who came in averaging 62.5 a night, since putting up 86 against Bluefield State late last season.
-Defensively, Malone came away with eight steals, four blocks, and a season-high 46 rebounds.
-Lake Erie shot well from the floor, making 30-of-67 (44.8%) field goal attempts. The Storm were outrebounded 46-38, but outscored Malone 26-19 in second chances and 46-30 in the paint.
-Malone held the advantage at the free throw line, draining 21-of-29 (72.4%) attempts compared to 12-of-25 (48.0%) for Lake Erie.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Baylen Dyrlund had an outstanding game for the Pioneers, collecting a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to finish with her second double-double of the season. She added a pair of steals and a pair of blocked shots.
-Holly Groff stuffed the stat sheet as well, finishing with 13 points (11 in the second quarter), six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
-Chrissie Vaughan added 13 points and was largely responsible for holding Lake Erie's Kayla Gabor, who came into the game leading the conference in scoring (21.8 ppg), to just 11 points (her 2nd-lowest total of the season).
-Sydney Wentling chipped in with 11 points and three assists.
-Paiten Strother totaled nine points, four boards, and two assists.
-Dani Drayer tallied eight points, three assists, and two steals.
-In her first significant action of the season, Keri Hill recorded seven points and seven rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
 
Lake Erie Individual Highlights
-Farrah Benner (7-10 FG, 5-8 3PT) scored a career-high 21 points in 27 minutes off the bench.
-Christine Dawson came away with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks.
-Josie Chaddock recorded 15 points and a game-high five steals.
 
Up Next
Malone will return to action this Saturday, January 13th with a home showdown against Ursuline. Tipoff is set for 3:00pm.