The Malone University women's basketball team earned its fifth straight victory on Saturday afternoon with an 81-73 triumph over visiting Trevecca Nazarene University. The 81-points were the most scored in regulation this season by the Pioneers, who have won seven of their last eight games overall.
 
The win also marked the sixth straight victory over Trevecca and catapulted Malone into sixth place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference standings. With the win, the Pioneers improved to 13-12 on the season and 11-8 in the G-MAC. The Trojans, meanwhile, dropped to 10-14 on the year and 9-9 in the conference.
 
Recap
The Pioneers, who came in scoring a tick under 60 points per game, were off and running on Saturday, scoring 29 points in the opening quarter. Malone knocked down six three-pointers in the quarter, including two each from seniors Naomi Grandison and Chrissie Vaughan, and shot 10-of-14 (71.4%) overall as it opened up a 29-19 lead by the end of the period.
 
Malone stretched the margin to its widest of the half when Mikayla Poole drained a three-pointer early in the second quarter to put the Pioneers ahead 34-19. The Trojans answered with eight straight points and eventually trimmed the deficit to six before Malone ended the half on an 8-1 run and took a 46-33 advantage into the intermission.
 
Freshman guard Robin Campbell, who went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and tallied 15 points in the first half, canned a three-pointer to give the hosts their largest lead of the game, 49-33, early in the third quarter, but Trevecca battled back to within four points with a 19-7 run. Four free throws to end the quarter gave Malone a 60-52 cushion headed into the fourth.
 
A 9-4 run, capped by a Grandison layup in transition, to start the final frame put the Pioneers up 69-56 with 6:51 remaining. The Trojans responded with three consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead back to just four points with 3:58 left. Grandison ended the run with her fourth three-pointer of the game, but the Trojans answered immediately with their fourth three of the quarter.
 
Holding on to a 72-68 lead, the Pioneers created some space when Chrissie Vaughan banked in a runner in the paint with 1:40 left. Following a defensive stop, senior guard Paiten Strother buried a huge corner three, her only basket of the game to extend the lead to 77-68 with 1:01 to play. After a Trevecca jumper, Malone countered with an Ellen Doyle fastbreak layup and two late free throws from Campbell offset another Trevecca trey as Malone went on to secure the 81-73 win in front of a satisfied home crowd.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone, who never trailed in the contest, shot a season-high 51.9% (28-of-54) from the field and made 12-of-28 (42.9%) from beyond the arc.
-The Pioneers improved to 8-0 this season when making at least 10 three-pointers.
-Trevecca made five of their seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished 28-of-62 (45.2%) from the field overall and 7-of-17 (41.2%) from deep.
-Malone outscored Trevecca 15-6 in the fastbreak and maintained a slight 32-30 edge in rebounds.
-The Trojans outscored the Pioneers 11-4 in second chances despite securing just six offensive boards.
-The five-game win streak is Malone's longest in the last two seasons. The Pioneers won 11 straight during the 2016-17 season.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Robin Campbell finished with a game-high 26 points, one shy of tying a season-high. She added eight assists and five rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
-Ellen Doyle had an outstanding game down low, contributing 17 points (third-most of her career), 13 rebounds (tied a career-high), three assists, and two steals. Doyle's double-double was the first of her career.
-Naomi Grandison totaled 14 points and two steals. Her four three-pointers tied a season-high.
-Chrissie Vaughan chipped in with 11 points and two assists. Vaughan is now just 10 points shy of 1,000 in her career.
-Mikayla Poole added eight points in 16 minutes off of the bench.
 
Trevecca Nazarene Individual Highlights
-Brianna Bryant led the Trojans with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.
-McKenzie Kilburn provided 15 points and seven rebounds.
 
Up Next
Malone will be off until next Saturday, February 23rd when it hosts rival Walsh for the 23rd Annual Mayors' Cup. Tip is scheduled for 1:00 pm.