The Malone University women's basketball team improved to 7-3 overall and 3-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) with a 79-58 victory at Tiffin University Monday evening. The Pioneers led by just two points with eight minutes to play, but outscored the Dragons 26-7 down the stretch to claim their fifth straight win and their fourth straight on the road.
 
Recap
The Dragons (5-8. 1-3 G-MAC) used a 9-0 run late in the first quarter to take an 18-12 lead against a Malone team that came into the game with the number two scoring defense in the conference. Redshirt junior guard Holly Groff would score the final five points of the opening session as the Pioneers trailed 18-17.
 
Tiffin made the first two field goals of the second stanza and maintained a 26-21 advantage at the six-minute mark, but Malone stormed out to an eight-point lead by the intermission. A three-pointer by Groff sparked a 15-2 rally which was capped off by another three-ball from sophomore guard Robin Campbell. Her triple on Malone's final possession of the half put Malone ahead 36-28.
 
The Pioneers extended their lead to 14 points, 47-33, for the second time in the third quarter when freshman Emma Kallas hit a layup with 3:47 remaining. The Dragons, however, scored 13 of the next 16 points, including a 40-foot buzzer beater to make it a 50-46 contest entering the fourth quarter.
 
Two quick Tiffin free throws made it 50-48 early in the final frame, but Campbell knocked down a corner three on the next possession to keep Malone in front. Tiffin trimmed the deficit to two points again a minute later, but Malone countered with a jumper from Mikayla Poole that brought the score to 55-51.
 
The Pioneers quickly made four straight free throws and later went up by double digits for good on a three-pointer from Alexis Hutchison. The visitors added a pair of layups from Kallas and Madison Hunter, a trey from Groff, and six late free throws to complete the impressive 21-point triumph.

Game Highlights

• Already a top-15 team in the country in free-throw percentage, Malone finished a perfect 14-of-14 at the charity stripe.
• The Pioneers shot 41.8% (28-67) from the field, including 9-of-31 from three-point range.
• Tiffin was held to just 33.9% (19-of-56) shooting and 4-of-20 (20%) from deep.
• Malone outrebounded the hosts 43-37 and turned 12 offensive boards in 18 second-chance points.
• The Pioneers committed a season-low nine turnovers, compared to 15 for the Dragons.

Pioneer Highlights

• Holly Groff played a game-high 36 minutes and scored a game-high 23 points to go along with five assists and a steal.
• Robin Campbell complemented Groff in the backcourt with 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
• Senior forward Sydney Wentling totaled 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot.
• Emma Kallas (3-3 FG, 3-3 FT) added a season-high nine points in just 11 minutes off of the bench.
   

Dragon Highlights

• Six-foot-three center Jasmine Watts collected a team-high 12 points
• Aarion Nichols tallied 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Up Next
The Pioneers will play their final game of 2019 this Friday, December 20th when they host West Liberty in a non-conference matchup at 1:00 pm.