The Malone University women's basketball team never led in a 73-67 loss to Kentucky Wesleyan College Saturday afternoon in Owensboro, Kentucky. After trailing by double-digits late in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers cut the lead to four points late in the game, but failed to knock down a clutch shot as they fell to 4-8 on the season and 2-6 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
 
Recap
A red-hot start by Kentucky Wesleyan (7-6, 3-6 G-MAC) in the opening quarter left Malone down 20-6 just seven minutes into the contest with all six Pioneer points coming from junior guard Paiten Strother. Following a layup by Sydney Wentling at the 2:21 mark, the Panthers drilled a three-pointer, their fifth of the quarter, to go up by 15 at 23-8 and take their largest lead of the game.
 
Still down 28-15 going into the second quarter, Malone recovered by tallying the next 11 points over the first five minutes to cut the deficit to 28-26. The Pioneers, however, never got any closer for the remainder of the game. Despite a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Chrissie Vaughan before halftime, Malone headed to the lockerroom trailing 40-34.
 
The Pioneers still trailed 61-51 after three quarters and saw themselves down 71-59 with just two and a half minutes left in the fourth. Malone then clawed back, though, with eight straight points to cut the lead to 71-67 with 44 seconds to play. Following a KWC free throw, the Pioneers had a chance to come within single possession, but missed four consecutive three-pointers following three offensive rebounds in the final 30 seconds. Kentucky Wesleyan hit one more free throw after finally pulling down a defensive board and eventually held on for the home win.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone outrebounded the Panthers 37-30, but was outscored 9-3 in second chances.
-Kentucky Wesleyan, who made 5-of-6 three-pointers in the opening quarter, finished 11-for-20 (55%) from beyond the arc. Overall the Panthers were 22-of-52 (42.3%) from the floor.
-Malone made 38.5% (20-for-52) from the field and 31.0% (9-for-29) from three.
-The Pioneers shot well at the free-throw line once again, hitting 18-of-20 (90.0%). They did, however, commit a season-high 23 turnovers.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Sydney Wentling scored a career-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Pioneers.
-Baylen Dyrlund chipped in with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
-Two days after scoring a season-high 20, Chrissie Vaughan finished with 12 points on Saturday.
-Paiten Strother and Dani Drayer each knocked down a pair of threes and finished with nine points. Strother added six rebounds.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Highlights
-Jenna Martin (10-12 FG, 4-4 3PT) scored a career-high 26 points to lead all scorers
-Emma Wolfe (4-6 3PT) added 12 points
 
Up Next
Malone returns home on Thursday, January 11th to face Lake Erie College at 8:00 pm.