Senior guard Chrissie Vaughan celebrated her birthday in style on Thursday evening as she and her Malone University women's basketball teammates took down first-place Kentucky Wesleyan College in a thrilling 75-72 home victory.
 
Vaughan knocked down five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points as the Pioneers snapped the Panthers' 15-game win streak, which coming into the night was the fifth-longest active streak in NCAA Division II. With the win, its fourth straight and sixth in the last seven games, Malone improved to 12-12 on the season and 10-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Kentucky Wesleyan, meanwhile, fell to 19-4 on the season and 15-2 in the G-MAC.
 
Recap
Vaughan came out red-hot on Thursday, canning four first-quarter triples, including three within the first four minutes of the game. Classmate Paiten Strother added a deep ball in the opening period as Malone shot 8-of-14 (57.1%) overall and captured a 25-18 lead by the end of one.
 
The shots kept falling for the Pioneers in the second quarter as the lead ballooned to 47-31 by halftime. The 47 points were the most in the first half this season, eight more than their previous high of 39 in the win at Lake Erie. The 16-point margin was the largest of the game, but Kentucky Wesleyan, who had not lost since December would not go down easy.
 
The Panthers came out roaring in the third quarter and completely erased the deficit by the final minute of the frame. KWC forced Malone into nine turnovers during the quarter, converting them into 17 points. A late three-pointer by Pioneer freshman Mikayla Poole in the waning seconds stopped a 25-6 skid and tied the game at 56-56 heading into the fourth.
 
Within two-and-a-half minutes, Kentucky Wesleyan grabbed its largest lead of the game at 66-60. Down but not out, Malone fought back with five straight points from junior guard Sydney Wentling, whose three-pointer brought her team to within one, 66-65, with 6:39 to go.
 
The Panthers went back up by five in the next few minutes before a Madison Hunter bucket and another huge three-pointer by Vaughan, her fifth of the game, tied it at 70-70 with 3:42 left.
 
Neither team scored over the next three minutes before a Malone foul sent Wesleyan's Kaylee Clifford to the line for two. Clifford promptly sank both free throws to put the Panthers up 72-70 with just 39 seconds on the clock.
 
On the Pioneers' ensuing trip down the court, fearless freshman Robin Campbell delivered a dagger, crossing up a KWC defender before stepping back for the go-ahead three. The Panthers would have a couple of decent looks in the final 27 seconds, but ultimately came up short as Malone netted two late free throws to secure the upset victory.
  
Game Highlights
-Malone tied a season-high with 12 three-pointers and finished 63.2% (12-of-19) from beyond the arc. The 63.2% figure marked the sixth-best in program history. Malone improved to 7-0 this season when making at least 10 three-pointers.
-In total, the Pioneers shot 50% (26-of-52), tying their best shooting performance of the season.
-Kentucky Wesleyan forced Malone into 21 turnovers outscored MU 32-7 in points off of turnovers, but had no answer for Malone's hot shooting.
-The Panthers, who recorded 14 steals, shot 38.5% (25-of-65) overall and 9-of-22 (40.9%) from deep.
-Malone outrebounded KWC 39-32.
-The victory avenged a 60-55 loss to Panthers earlier this season in Owensboro.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Chrissie Vaughan totaled 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a 5-for-8 effort from deep. Vaughan, who now needs just 21 points to reach 1,000 in her career, added four rebounds and two blocked shots.
-Robin Campbell scored 13 points and overcame a season-high nine turnovers with a season-high nine assists. She also added six rebounds and two steals.
-Sydney Wentling shot 5-of-7 from the floor and finished with 11 points.
-In her first game in over a month, Mikayla Poole scored eight points on 3-of-3 shooting (2-of-2 from deep).
-Junior forward Ellen Doyle added eight points, six rebounds, and two steals.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Individual Highlights
-Keelie Lamb led the Panthers with 19 points, five steals, and three assists.
-Emma Wolfe provided 15 points off of the bench.
-Clifford chipped in with 10 points, a team-high six rebounds, and three blocks.
 
Up Next
Malone will go for its fifth straight win on Saturday against Trevecca Nazarene. Tip is set for 1:00 pm in Osborne Hall on Hal Smith Court.