The Malone University women's basketball team used an outstanding defensive effort combined with its best shooting performance of the year to defeat Lake Erie College 76-46 in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference battle Thursday evening in Painesville. With the win, Malone improved t0 6-10 on the season and 4-5 in G-MAC play. The Storm dropped to 8-7 on the year and 5-5 in conference.
 
The 30-point victory represented Malone's largest margin of victory this season.
 
Recap
The Pioneer defense set the tone early, limiting Lake Erie to one field goal over the first six minutes of the game. The Pioneer offense, meanwhile, used an 11-0 run, highlighted with three-pointers from Chrissie Vaughan, Ellen Doyle, and Sydney Wentling, to open up a 13-2 lead. Seven different Pioneers eventually scored in the opening period as Malone led 17-8 through the end of one.
 
In the second quarter, Malone limited Lake Erie to just three made field goals and outscored the Storm 22-6 as Doyle and senior guard Paiten Strother combined for 18 in the frame. By halftime, Malone extended its lead to 39-14 while Doyle nearly outscored Lake Erie on her own, contributing 13 points.
 
While the shots began to fall for Lake Erie in the third quarter, the shots continued to fall for Malone. Freshman point guard Robin Campbell poured in 11 third-quarter points as Malone outscored the Storm 26-18 and stretched its lead to 65-32 heading into the fourth.
 
Malone would lead by as many as 37 points (74-37) midway through the final frame before cruising to the 76-46 road victory and its best win of the season.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone held Lake Erie to 27.4% (17-of-62) shooting – the lowest by an opponent this season. The 46 points tied for the fewest allowed in a game.
-Offensively, Malone shot a season-high 50% (27-of-54) from the floor.
-The Pioneers knocked down 10 of 24 three-point attempts (41.7%) and were 12-of-16 at the free throw line.
-The Storm made just 5-of-20  three-pointers and 7-of-13 free throws.
-Malone led 30-20 in points in the paint and 20-16 in points off the bench.The Storm outscored the Pioneers 11-0 in the fastbreak while the Pioneers excelled in the halfcourt.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Robin Campbell delivered another statsheet-stuffing performance, finishing with a game-high 17 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and a season-high four steals.
-Paiten Strother tallied 16 points, four boards, and a pair of assists.
-Ellen Doyle finished with 15 points (6-8 FG, 3-3 3PT), six rebounds, three assists, and a block.
-Madison Hunter, Sydney Wentling, and Chrissie Vaughan all chipped in with eight points each. Hunter grabbed a season-high six rebounds, Vaughan secured five, and Wentling recorded two steals.
 
Lake Erie Individual Highlights
-Josie Chaddock led the Storm with 11 points, four rebounds, and two steals.
-Elaine Billing added 11 points off the bench.
 
Up Next
Malone will look to make it two wins in a row when it travels to Ursuline this Saturday, January 19th for a 2:00 pm tip.