The Malone University women's basketball team failed to come away with its second straight Mayors' Cup victory on Saturday as the Walsh University women regained the coveted Cup with a 67-54 triumph over the Pioneers in North Canton. With the loss, Malone fell to 9-15 on the season and 7-13 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Walsh improved to 18-8 (15-5 G-MAC).
 
Recap
Facing the number one scoring defense in the G-MAC, the Pioneers struggled to replicate their season-high 94-point performance they put up last Saturday as they scored just 12 points in the opening quarter. The tightly-contested frame featured four lead changes and saw Malone up 12-11 following a fadeaway jumper from Holly Groff with 34 seconds left, but a Walsh three-pointer and a buzzer-beating layup after a Malone turnover gave the hosts a 16-12 lead.
 
A three-pointer by Chrissie Vaughan just six seconds into the second quarter brought the Pioneers to within one, but they would never get any closer for the remainder of the game. Walsh outscored Malone 24-13 over the next 9:54 and took a 40-28 advantage at half.
 
Walsh led by double digits for nearly the entire second half, going up by as many as 17. With 1:08 left to play, Malone came within nine points on a Vaughan fastbreak layup after a Karlee Pezzano steal, but it was too little too late as the Cavaliers knocked down four late free throws and secured the win in the 22nd Annual Mayors' Cup game.
 
Game Highlights
-Neither team shot the ball particularly well; Malone made just 35.8% (19 of 53) from the field while Walsh fared only slightly better, shooting 39.3% (24 of 61).
-The Pioneers, who made a season-high 17 threes in their last game, connected on just 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three. The Cavs made only 14.8% (4-of-27) from beyond the arc.
-Walsh held a slight edge in rebounds (40-35), second-chance points (12-6), and points in the paint (34-24).
-Malone committed 16 turnovers, to Walsh's eight, and the Pioneer bench was outscored by Walsh's 38-0.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Baylen Dyrlund was one of only four Pioneers to crack the scoring column as she totaled exactly 19 points for the third straight game.
-Chrissie Vaughan made 4-of-6 three-point tries and ended the day with 14 points.
-Holly Groff added 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
-Naomi Grandison grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in addition to her eight points.
 
Walsh Individual Highlights
-Jill Blacksten and Tyler Newkirk both came off the bench to score 13 and 12 points respectively.
-Mayci Sales talled 10 points and a team-high nine boards.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers will travel to take on Ursuline next Thursday, February 22nd as they try to keep their postseason hopes alive.