PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- On Saturday afternoon the Malone University women's basketball team traveled north to Ursuline College for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference matchup with the Arrows. 

The Pioneers (5-7, 5-7 G-MAC) went ahead early in the game and were able to withstand several Ursuline (6-6, 6-6 G-MAC) comeback attempts on their way to an 87-82 win.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Malone made their mark early on in the contest, especially offensively. They shot nearly 50% from the field in the opening quarter, and connected on three shots from beyond the three-point line to help build a 21-14 lead. 

With the game tied at 11-11 Holly Groff drilled her second triple of the contest to ignite a 10-0 Pioneer run. Robin Campbell followed with a layup before Nikki Weber scored five straight points to give Malone a 21-11 lead.

The Pioneers notched their largest lead of the half early in the second quarter when a Groff free throw made it a 25-14 game. 

Ursuline settled back in, and actually fought all the way back to take a 28-27 advantage with 4:55 remaining before halftime. However a quick 7-0 Malone run inside the final minute, highlighted by five more points from Campbell, gave the Pioneers a 40-35 advantage at halftime.

The Arrows answered in the third quarter, getting to within one point of Malone at 56-55, but the Pioneers always found a way to maintain their lead. Despite being outscored by Ursuline in the third Malone still held a 64-61 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The game stayed within just one possession for the early parts of the fourth before another Groff three-pointer gave the Pioneers a four-point lead and some breathing room. Unfortunately the Arrows responded in a big way, and actually took a 76-75 lead with only 4:21 left to play in the game. 

Campbell provided the final answer for Malone. She connected on five straight points to put the Pioneers back on top at 80-76. They would never trail again, closing out the game down the stretch for the 87-82 win.

PIONEER POINTS

• Robin Campbell posted a season-best 26 points on 11-18 shooting from the field. The junior guard also pulled down five rebounds, including two on the offensive end of the floor.

• Holly Groff eclipsed the 20-point mark for the second-straight game, and sixth time this season. She also finished with 26 points, tying Campbell for the game-high. Groff did most of her damage from beyond the three-point line as seven of her eight made field goals came from distance. She also provided a spark on the defensive end of the floor, leading the team with four steals. 

• Emma Kallas and Madison Hunter each finished with 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Malone, while Hunter pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

• As a team the Pioneers shot 40% (12-30) from three-point range, their second-best mark this season. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Pioneers return home next weekend for the first of three straight games inside Osborne Hall. Malone will host Kentucky Wesleyan College on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.