Junior guard Chrissie Vaughan scored a season-high 20 points, including 17 in the second half, to help the Malone University women's basketball team overcome a 15-point third-quarter deficit and defeat Trevecca Nazarene University 59-54 Thursday night in Nashville. With the win, Malone improved to 4-7 on the year and 2-5 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, snapping a skid of five straight conference casualties.
 
Recap
Facing a Trevecca outfit that came into the game having lost nine of its last 10, Malone shot just 29.6% in an inefficient first half that featured more turnovers (nine) than made field goals (eight). Despite holding the Pioneers to a season-low 19 points at halftime, the Trojans, fortunately, fared only marginally better on the offensive end, equaling Malone with nine turnovers and shooting just 34.5% (10-29) from the field as they carried a 27-19 lead into the intermission.
 
After scoring just 19 points in the first two quarters, the Pioneers put up 21 in the third. Trailing 40-25 four minutes into the third quarter, Chrissie Vaughan, who scored only three points in the first 24 minutes, went to work for Malone, hitting back-to-back threes to cut the lead to nine. Following a Sydney Foster layup, Vaughan knocked down another triple to make it a 44-36 contest. Malone added layups by Baylen Dyrlund and Holly Groff in the closing moments of the period to trim the lead to within four.
 
Malone captured the lead just two minutes into the fourth quarter on two more long-range bombs from Vaughan. The two teams then exchanged the lead twice before settling on a 50-50 deadlock with 4:48 remaining.
 
The Pioneers regained the lead for good on a corner three-pointer by Naomi Grandison at the 3:11 mark. A mid-range jumper by Vaughan with 1:13 remaining made it a two-score game and effectively put the game out of reach. Malone hit 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch to prevail 59-54.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone outscored Trevecca 19-10 in the fourth quarter, holding the Trojans to just 22.2% (4-of-18) shooting. Overall TNU shot 31.3% (20-for-64) from the field and 25% (5-for-20) from three.
-The Pioneers made 10-of-25 (40.0%) three point attempts. They shot 39.6% (21-for-53) from the field overall, but 13-for-26 (50.0%) in the second half.
-Malone outrebounded the Trojans 40-38 and recorded a season-high five blocks.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Vaughan finished the night 7-of-15 from the field and 6-of-11 from deep. In addition to her season-high 20 points, she grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and assisted on Grandison's eventual game-winner.
-Naomi Grandison scored 12 points and was 3-of-4 from three-point range. She added four rebounds and two blocks.
-Holly Groff benefitted from her teammates' clutch shooting with seven assists to go along with seven points and two steals.
-Baylen Dyrlund added two steals, six points, and six rebounds.
-Junior college transfer Keri Hill, who redshirted last season, recorded her first points as a Pioneer with an open layup in the second quarter.
 
Trevecca Nazarene Highlights
-Kacie Wallace scored a team-high 16 points in just 15 minutes off the bench.
-McKenzie Kilburn added 14 points and eight rebounds.
 
Up Next
Malone will take on Kentucky Wesleyan this Saturday, January 6th in Owensboro in another crucial G-MAC contest. Tip is set for 2:00 pm ET (1:00 pm CT).