Roster | Schedule | Photo Day

The Malone University women's basketball team opens the season this weekend in a Midwest Region Crossover event at Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Pioneers open against the Lakers this Friday, November 8th at 5:00 pm before meeting the University of Indianapolis at 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 9th.
 
Coming off of a 15-14 season and a berth in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships, the Pioneers have their sights set on another postseason appearance as they enter their fourth season in the G-MAC. For a program that has posted back-to-back winning seasons just once in the past 18 years, Malone and second-year head coach Selana  Reale are looking to build upon last year's success.
 
"We are going to do a lot of the same things," said Reale. "We are focusing on getting better in practice day-to-day and making sure we stay consistent."
 
Reale was named the G-MAC Coach of the Year in her first season in charge at Malone, leading her outfit to a well-earned postseason berth. The Pioneers finished 13-9 in conference play, marking a five-win improvement from the previous season, and clinched the sixth seed in the conference tournament. The Pioneers reeled off nine wins in their last 11 regular season games, using a stifling defense paired with a potent three-point shooting attack.
 
Malone knocked down 245 three-point baskets last season, second-most in school history and fifth-most in the Midwest Region. The Pioneer defense allowed just 61.0 points per game, fewest in the G-MAC and fifth-fewest in the Region. Malone also ranked fourth in the Midwest Region in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to a G-MAC low 37.8% shooting.
 
"We are definitely putting a big emphasis on defense again," expressed Reale.
 
The Pioneers lost three seniors from last season's squad, including 1,000-point scorer Chrissie Vaughan and reliable starting forwards Paiten Strother and Naomi Grandison. This year's squad features just three upperclassmen, but returns three of its top four scorers from 2018-19.
 
Expected to provide much of the leadership and the bulk of experience on the court are seniors Ellen Doyle and Sydney Wentling. Doyle is coming off of a breakout junior season in which she started 27 games, averaging 8.7 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds. Wentling came off the bench most nights to provide an offensive spark, scoring 8.5 points per game on a team-high 44.1% shooting. Both seniors were named to the G-MAC All-Academic Team.
 
"They are really working hard to help get everyone on the same page, and from a leadership standpoint, they've both done a great job," commented Coach Reale.
 
Redshirt junior guard Holly Groff also returns to the hardwood this season after missing the entire 2018-19 campaign with an injury. Groff averaged 11.2 points and 3.8 assists as a sophomore and is relentless on the defensive end. Her energy and style of play is not only exciting, but contagious.
 
"I know she's excited and the rest of the team is excited to have her back," Reale relayed. "She brings competitiveness to our team and she wants to work hard and get better."
 
The Pioneer roster also features four sophomores, including do-it-all guard Robin Campbell, a G-MAC Second Team All-Conference selection and the 2018-19 G-MAC Freshman of the Year. Last season, Campbell played a team-high 36.2 minutes per game, averaging 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 44.0% from the floor and 42.7% from three-point range. She led the G-MAC in assists and finished sixth overall in scoring. She also played more minutes than any other freshman in the country.
 
"Robin did a great job being thrown into the point guard spot right away," stated coach Reale. "We are looking for her to continue to improve her game."
 
The balance of the sophomore class includes guard Mikayla Poole and forwards Madison Hunter and Olivia Clark. Poole, who averaged 5.0 points per game, and Hunter, who chipped in 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a night, both played valuable minutes off the bench last season. Clark, meanwhile, missed all of last year with injury and will be making her varsity debut this season.
 
A talented and versatile freshman class runs seven deep. Among the first-year Pioneers are Jade Abdulla (North Canton, GlenOak High School), Kayla Gudel (Middleburg Heights, OH/Berea Midpark HS), Alexis Hutchison (Centerville, OH/Centerville HS), Emma Kallas (Waukesha, WI/Martin Luther HS), Bri Lucas (Fort Wayne, IN/Homestead HS), Vanessa Sales (Canton/McKinley HS), and Nikki Weber (Loudonville, OH/Loudonville HS).
 
Reale's coaching staff includes assistant Deidre McKay and graduate assistants Olivia Besancon and Jordan Bekelja.
 
Following the two games this weekend, Malone plays its home opener next Wednesday, November 13th vs. Salem University. The Pioneer slate includes 28 total contests, including 14 at home on Hal Smith Court. Malone opens an 18-game conference slate in December. The G-MAC Championship will take place the first weekend of March.