The Malone University women's basketball team made 15 three-pointers in a 91-75 victory over Alderson Broaddus University Saturday night in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) contest played at West Virginia Wesleyan College. With the win, Malone improved to 16-6 on the season, surpassing last year's win total. The Pioneers are now 10-2 in conference, 9-2 on the road, and 8-1 on their last nine games.
 
The reeling Battlers, who countered Malone with 13 three-pointers, dropped their 11th straight game and fell to 6-17 overall, 3-11 in G-MAC play.
 
Recap
Three weeks after a 75-57 Malone win over Alderson Broaddus in Canton, in which the Pioneers led by as many as 28 points, it was the Battlers who controlled the game early on Saturday. AB canned four three-pointers in the opening quarter and led by as many as eight points. Madison Hunter and Sydney Wentling meshed their own treys late in the frame, but the hosts maintained a 20-16 lead at the end of one.
 
Wentling sank another triple to begin the second quarter before the Battlers went on a run and pushed the lead to 29-19. Malone answered with a three from Robin Campbell on the next possession, igniting a quick turnaround. A 14-3 run, capped off by a trey from Wentling, over the next three minutes allowed Malone to take its first lead of the game at 33-32 with four minutes to play in the first half. Holly Groff and Emma Kallas added buckets and Ellen Doyle drained a buzzer-beating three to put Malone in front 40-36 at the break.
 
Malone heated up in the third quarter, shooting 66.7% and knocking down six threes. The Pioneers outscored the Battlers 28-12 over the final eight minutes of the session. Holly Groff, the G-MAC leader in three-pointers, was left open for a trio of long balls. Sydney Wentling added two more from deep, including a step-back three at the buzzer, as the Pioneers went to the fourth ahead 68-52.
 
Malone held on in the final quarter while the margin never came within single digits. The Pioneers shot 66.7% again in the quarter to seal the 16-point triumph.

Game Highlights

• The Pioneers scored 75 points and shot 64.3% (27-of-42) across the final three quarters.
• Malone made 15 of 26 three-point attempts; the 57.7% was the highest all season.
• Alderson Broaddus made 13 of 22 three-pointers; the 59.1% was the best by an MU opponent this season.
• The Pioneers won the turnover battle 17-11 and owned a staggering 34-7 edge in points off of turnovers.
• Malone's 91 points were the second-most in a game this season.
   

Pioneer Highlights

• Holly Groff finished with five three-pointers and a team-high 25 points. She also distributed a season-high seven assists, blocked a shot, and grabbed two steals.
• Sydney Wentling, who sat out Thursday's win over Ohio Valley, scored a career-high 23 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting. She tied a career with five three-pointers and reached 700 career points during the contest.
• Robin Campbell provided 10 points, four assists, and three steals.
• Madison Hunter added nine points while Ellen Doyle, Alexis Hutchison, and Emma Kallas all scored eight apiece. Doyle also tied a season-high with seven assists.

Battler Highlights

• Ta'sharra Jefferies scored a team-high 16 points.
• Kristy Galea added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Up Next
Malone is scheduled to visit Cedarville next Thursday, February 13th for a pivotal road matchup.