The Malone University women's basketball team saw its five-game win streak come to an end on Friday afternoon when visiting West Liberty University came into Osborne Hall and left with an 82-76 victory. The Pioneers overcame a 15-point first-half deficit, but ultimately fell to 7-4 on the season with the non-conference defeat.
 
Recap
The Pioneers struggled early against the up-tempo pace of the Hilltoppers, who knocked down four first-quarter three-pointers and led 18-11 after one. West Liberty then started the second quarter on a 10-2 run, opening up the largest lead of the game at 28-13 just two minutes into the second half.
 
Malone slowly but surely began chipping away at the advantage as a putback layup from Jade Abdulla along with buckets from Ellen Doyle, Holly Groff, and Sydney Wentling helped trim the deficit to just five. By halftime, the margin was a manageable seven points, 38-31.
 
Three-pointers by Wentling and Doyle allowed Malone to close to within three points in the third quarter, but West Liberty kept the lead for the duration and would take a 58-54 edge into the fourth.
 
The Pioneers came within a single possession five different times in the first six minutes of the final quarter before finally tying the game. Four straight points from Doyle knotted the score at 68-68 with 3:30 left to play.
 
The tie was immediately erased by the Hilltoppers and it took less than two minutes for them to go back up by seven, 77-70, after cashing in three-pointers on three of their next four possessions. Malone kept battling and brought the game to with two points, 78-76, with 12 seconds remaining, but the visitors sank four late free throws to ice the six-point triumph.

Game Highlights

• In a game fraught with 44 combined fouls, West Liberty finished 17-of-18 (94.4%) at the free-throw line while Malone made 21-of-26 (80.8%).
• West Liberty sank 13-of-30 (43.3%) three-point tries while Malone was just 3-for-17 (17.6%) from distance.
• Malone was outshot 52.0% (26-50) to 39.4% (26-66), but the Pioneers pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and tallied 11 second-chance points.
• WLU made the most of their three offensive rebounds, converting nine second-chance points.
• Malone committed just 11 turnovers, compared to 23 for the guests, resulting in a 25-14 edge in points from TO's.
• Malone's 76 points were the second-most in a loss across the last five seasons. The Pioneers scored 77 in a loss to Ohio Dominican in 2017.

Pioneer Highlights

• Senior forward Ellen Doyle scored a season-high 22 points, the second 20-point performance of her career. Doyle also secured a season-high nine rebounds and a steal.
• Holly Groff contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
• Sydney Wentling added 11 points and two assists.
• Robin Campbell chipped in 10 points and three assists.
   

Hilltopper Highlights

• Division I transfer Morgan Brunner drained seven threes on her way to a game-high 30 points.
• Grace Fodor collected 13 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes off of the bench.

Up Next
The Pioneers resume conference play on Thursday, January 2nd against Trevecca Nazarene.