CANTON – Malone University will continue their opening homestand with a matchup against the Cardinals of Wheeling University. The Pioneers are coming off back-to-back season opening wins against the University of Indianapolis (79-64) and Lindenwood University (88-69). 

Matchup: Malone Pioneers (2-0, 0-0 GMAC) vs Wheeling University (0-2, 0-0 MEC)
Where: Osborne Hall
When: 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats/Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/malone/
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/malone-athletics-and-the-office-of-alumni-relations-12668277512


Opening Weekend in Osborne
In the first two games of the season, the Pioneers shot 55.3% from the field. Malone's offense rode on the 42 points in the paint and the 26 points scored off turnovers scored in both games of opening weekend. 

Malone's defense also came out of the gate strong, holding Indianapolis to a 46.3 field goal percentage and only 3-of-16 from the three-point line. The Lions were held to just 5-of-12 beyond the arc and 58.3% from the charity line.

Holly Groff led the charge - finishing with team-high points in both Friday's and Saturday's competitions. Against the Greyhounds, she scored 32 points after shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. The following day Groff went 9-12 from the field and 2-4 from beyond the arc on her way to scoring 24 points.

Robin Campbell also broke the twenty-point mark (21) in the game against Lindenwood. She sank nine of her twelve shots from the field on Saturday. Emma Kallas (11 points on Saturday), and Alexis Hutchison (14 on Friday and 10 on Saturday) also topped the double-digit point marks.

Hardwood Series
This will be the second all-time meeting between the Cardinals and the Pioneers. Malone came away with the first win of the series in January of 2020 by a score of 70-61 in West Virginia. In that game, the Pioneers sank 31 free throws, including a 15-of-16 effort in the fourth quarter.

Know Your Opponent
The Wheeling University Cardinals are coming off two double-digit opening weekend losses to West Chester (73-61) and Bloomsburg (74-60). Shanley Woods (18 and 16) and Lauren Calhoun (15 and 16) led the offensive charge for the Cardinals, with both scoring in the double digits in the first two games of the season. Calhoun and Alysa Edwards-Frick pulled down a combined 31 rebounds for Wheeling in the season openers. 

Looking Ahead
The Pioneers will keep things at home for the weekend when they face Slippery Rock University on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.