The Malone University women's basketball team came out on the losing end of the 24th Annual Mayors' Cup game against Walsh University Wednesday night in North Canton by the final score of 71-61. The loss marked for the fourth-straight for the Pioneers, who dropped to 17-10 on the season and 11-6 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Walsh, which entered the week ranked 11th in NCAA Division II, won its 19th in a row and improved to 24-2 overall and 17-0 in G-MAC play.
 
Recap
The Pioneers traded blows with the #11 team in the country for much of the first half as neither team ever led by more than two possessions. Pioneer senior Sydney Wentling knocked down an open three-pointer late in the first quarter to give Malone its first lead of the game at 13-12 before the two teams eventually saw the score deadlocked at 14-14 at the end of the frame.
 
A seesaw second quarter featured a whopping 12 lead changes. Freshman Alexis Hutchison scored nine points in the session, including a fastbreak layup in transition off a crisp bounce back from Mikayla Poole that put Malone up 29-27. Walsh, however, tallied the final four points of the quarter and owned a 31-29 lead at the half.
 
Hutchison canned a triple on Malone's first possession of the second half, but Walsh quickly regained the lead with a pair of free throws and the Pioneers never led again. The Cavaliers stretched the advantage to 47-37 over the next five minutes, but Malone efforted the margin back down to three, 47-44, with a 7-0 run capped off by a three-point play from Jade Abdulla, before heading to the fourth.
 
The home team used a 10-2 run to go in front 57-46 with seven minutes to play and then led comfortably for the remainder of the game as they held on for the 71-61 triumph.

Game Highlights

• The Cavs shot 57.1% (8-of-14) in the fourth quarter, but only 40.3% (27-67) for the game.
• Walsh outrebounded Malone 49-34, including a 17-8 edge in offensive boards resulting in a 16-6 advantage in second-chance points.
• Malone struggled from the field, shooting just 36.1% (22-of-61) overall and 21.7% (5-of-23) from three-point range.
   

Pioneer Highlights

• Robin Campbell led Malone with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Alexis Hutchison totaled 15 points and four rebounds.
• Holly Groff connected on two three-pointers to tie the single-season school record of 86. She finished with six tallies.
• Mikayla Poole added three assists and three steals off of the bench.

Cavalier Highlights

• Shay Carter led Walsh with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals.
• Mayci Sales provided 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks

Up Next
Malone will host Ursuline this Saturday, February 29th at 1:00 pm as it celebrates Senior Day.