The Malone University women's basketball team climbed to 6-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference with a 75-57 home win over Alderson Broaddus University Saturday afternoon in Osborne Hall. The Pioneers outscored the Battlers 45-15 in the second and third quarters and opened a 28-point lead before cruising to their fourth straight victory. With the win, Malone is now 12-5 on the season and 11-2 in the last 13 games.
 
Recap
In a close opening quarter that featured five lead changes, Alderson Broaddus managed its largest lead of the game at 14-10 with just over a minute to play. With the Pioneers on their heels, freshman Jade Abdulla cashed in a three-pointer on the next possession to change the momentum in favor of Malone.
 
Abdulla's three-pointer sparked a 17-4 run highlighted by a Sydney Wentling three-ball and capped off with an old-fashioned three-point play by Robin Campbell with 5:55 remaining in the second quarter. Following a Battler three, Malone answered with eight straight points, including a steal-and-a score by Alexis Hutchison and a three-point bucket from Holly Groff, to extend the margin to 35-21. By the intermission, Malone stretched the advantage to 41-25.
 
Groff, who scored 14 points in the first half, tallied a pair of three-pointers in the first two minutes of the second half as the Pioneers used a 9-0 run to make it a 50-25 ball game. By the end of the period, Malone still led 59-31 and had little problem putting the game away in the fourth quarter.
 
Game Highlights

• Malone shot 17-for-26 (65.4%) in the middle two quarters and finished at 55.3% - the second-highest single-game figure this season
• The Pioneers held AB to just 25% (7-28) shooting in the same pivotal time frame and 36% for the game
• Alderson Broaddus committed 26 fouls, including five offensive, in the loss. The 26 fouls were the most by an MU opponent this season.
• AB forced Malone into a season-high 25 turnovers, earning 15 steals, but Malone had more points off of turnovers (23-19)
• Malone won the rebounding battle (36-29) and the Pioneer bench outscored the guests' 26-16.

Pioneer Highlights

• Holly Groff registered a team-high 21 points and four assists. Saturday marked Groff's sixth 20-point game of the season and her third in the last four outings.
• Robin Campbell added 14 points, seven assists, a block, and a steal.
• Alexis Hutchison contributed 12 points – one shy of a season-high – five rebounds and two steals.
• Emma Kallas chipped in seven points, a team-high six rebounds, and a steal.

 
Battler Highlights

• Ta'Sharra Jeffries collected 15 points, a game-high five steals, and four assists.

Up Next
Malone will be off until next Saturday, January 25th when they host Hillsdale.