CANTON, Ohio -- On Thursday night the Malone University women's basketball team welcomed the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan College to Osborne Hall for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference contest.

The Pioneers (5-8, 5-8 G-MAC) carried a three-game winning streak into the game, but were upended by the Panthers (9-3, 9-3 G-MAC) by a final score of 81-72.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Malone started off strong, opening up a quick six-point lead on an Emma Kallas layup. The Pioneers maintained an advantage for most of the opening quarter until late when back-to-back KWC three-pointers gave the Panthers a 15-14 lead. Malone countered with consecutive baskets from Kallas, and a late layup from Holly Groff to carry a 20-14 lead into the second quarter. 

The teams traded scores early in the second, with neither side able to hold more than a one possession advantage. That all changed inside of the final three minutes of the half. 

With the score tied at 30-30, Groff converted on a shot to put Malone up by two. After a defensive stop, Robin Campbell was fouled while shooting a three-pointer. She converted on all three of the free-throw attempts to push the lead out to 35-30. The Pioneer defense continued to stifle the Panthers, and Kallas put up four more points to give Malone a 39-30 halftime lead. 

A Madison Hunter layup gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at 46-33 with 8:01 left to play in the third. Unfortunately Kentucky Wesleyan erased that deficit in a big way. The Panthers outscored Malone by a 24-13 mark over those final eight minutes to cut the lead down to 59-57.

The Pioneers started out the final period strong. They were able to hold off KWC early, and stretch out an eight-point lead on two different occasions. Unfortunately that all changed late. Kentucky Wesleyan fought all of the way back. They took the lead at 71-69 with 2:40 left to play, and then closed out the 81-72 win down the stretch.

PIONEER POINTS

• Emma Kallas exploded for 17 points to lead all Malone scorers. That effort tied her career high set last season against Waynesburg. She also pulled down 7 rebounds to tie Madison Hunter for the team high.

• For the second straight game Robin Campbell and Holly Groff finished with the same scoring output. The duo each contributed 14 points. Campbell was an efficient 4-7 from the field and 5-5 from the free-throw line. 

• Malone's defense forced the Panthers into 17 turnovers. The Pioneers converted those extra opportunities into a 22-18 advantage in points off of turnovers.

• Malone had a 42-34 advantage on points in the paint. That number was helped by 11 offensive rebounds. Kallas also led the way in that department with four. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Due to the COVID-19 protocols within the G-MAC, Saturday's contest against Trevecca Nazarene University has been postponed. The Pioneers next scheduled game is set for Wednesday, February 3 at home against Ursuline College. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.