The Malone University women's basketball team erupted for a season-high 94 points in an impressive 94-55 victory over Trevecca Nazarene University Saturday afternoon in Osborne Hall. The Pioneers hit 17 three-pointers, the second most in school history, as they improved to 9-14 on the season and 7-12 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Trevecca dropped to 8-17 (6-13 G-MAC) with the loss.
 
Prior to the game, Malone honored seniors Baylen Dyrlund, Paiten Strother, and Keri Hill.

 
Recap
Playing in her final home contest, senior forward Baylen Dyrlund tallied the Pioneers' first four points in a game that, in the early going, looked very similar to Malone's grind-it-out 59-54 victory over the Trojans in early January. A layup by Division I transfer Callie Hackett gave the visitors a 6-4 lead four minutes into the opening quarter before Chrissie Vaughan knocked down a three-pointer to put Malone in front 7-6, and from there, the rout was on.
 
Senior guard Paiten Strother connected on a corner three, Sydney Wentling hit back-to-back triples, and Holly Groff added a driving layup as Malone led 19-9 after one. A bucket by Division I transfer Brittin Boyer on the first possession of the second quarter cut the lead back down to eight, but Naomi Grandison countered with a layup on the next possession and the Pioneers led by double digits the rest of the game.
 
The Pioneers hit six of seven from beyond the arc in the second quarter, including three from Vaughan and one each from Strother, Wentling, and Groff, to lead 45-19 at halftime.
 
Malone continued to torch the net in the third quarter, using a sensational 11-of-14 (78.6%) effort from the field and another sizzling 6-of-7 (85.7%) performance from three. The offensive showcase was on full display as four two-point baskets from Dyrlund combined with two more threes from Vaughan and Wentling and another by Grandison helped Malone go up by 30. Sydney Foster got herself into the act as well, burying a corner in the final seconds of the third to put Malone ahead 74-40 going into the fourth.
 
Dani Drayer knocked down Malone's 17th and final three-pointer midway through an inconsequential fourth quarter. With both benches emptied, Keri Hill added a basket to the delight of the Senior Day crowd and freshman guard Karlee Pezzano tossed in a pair of free throws to record her first collegiate points. Two free throws by freshman Brittany Coonce in the closing seconds accounted for the final tallies in the dominant victory. With Coonce's late free throws, all 12 Pioneers in uniform scored at least two points.
 
During halftime of Saturday's game, former players and coaches in attendance were honored in celebration of 50 Years of Malone Women's Basketball. The win on Saturday was Malone's 625th in program history.

 
Game Highlights
-The 94 points for Malone marked the highest in a game since pouring in 113 against Akron-Wayne in November of 2012.
-The Pioneers finished the day 30-of-49 from the field. The 61.2% success rate was the highest since shooting 62.1% (36-of-58) against Roberts Wesleyan in December of 2004.
-Malone was even better from distance, going 17-of-26. The 65.1% mark was the 4th-best in school history and the highest since shooting 76.9% (10-of-13) against Northwood in 2011. It was also the 6th-best performance by a team in NCAA Division II this season and the best by a G-MAC team.
-Malone more than doubled up the Trojans in rebounding, 45-22. The Pioneers grabbed an offensive board on nearly half of their missed shots and tallied 12 second-chance points.
-Malone was also 17-of-21 (81.0%) from the free throw line.
-The Pioneers defense held Trevecca to just 28.8% (17-of-59) shooting, marking the lowest by an opponent this season.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Chrissie Vaughan led the three-point barrage, finishing 6-of-7 from distance and 7-for-9 overall as she totaled a season-high 21 points and four assists.
-Baylen Dyrlund did all of her work inside the arc, collecting 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting (5-5 FT) and a team-high seven rebounds.
-Sydney Wentling tallied 16 points, including a career-high five threes in seven tries.
-Holly Groff added 11 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high five assists.
-Paiten Strother recorded six points on a pair of treys.
 
Trevecca Nazarene Highlights
-Callie Hackett was the only Trojan to reach double figures, finishing with 18 points.
-Brittin Boyer added eight points and a game-high three steals.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers will be idle until next Saturday, February 17th when they visit Walsh for a Mayors' Cup rematch.