CANTON – On Saturday, the Pioneers were handed their first lost of the season by Slippery Rock University, but they look to get back in the win column before the Thanksgiving holiday by finishing out their opening homestand by hosting the Golden Eagles of Clarion University.
Matchup: Malone Pioneers (3-1, 0-0 GMAC) vs Clarion University (1-3, 0-0 PSAC)
Where: Osborne Hall
When: 2:00 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
Saturday's Comeback Stopped Short
Slippery Rock University handed Malone their first lost of the season with a final score in favor of The Rock, 69-59. Robin Campbell started off the scoring and gave Malone a 5-0 lead and halfway through the first quarter the Pioneers had a 7-6 lead, their last lead of the game. The comeback campaign began early, and Malone managed to get within seven points multiple times in the second half, but Slippery Rock maintained offensive control.
Despite the clock running out of time for the Pioneers to mount a win, three starters scored in double digits: Holly Groff (15), Kyli Horn (13), and Emma Kallas (10). Kallas brought down a team high 11 rebounds, marking her first double-double of the season and the first double-double recorded by the Pioneers this season. After her 9 assists, Robin Campbell sits atop the G-MAC standings averaging 6 assist per game early in the season.
In the second half attempted comeback, Malone shot 12-32 (37.5%) from the field and 7-of-10 from the charity stripe edging out Slippery Rock who shot 6-12 from the free-throw line in the second half. Malone finished the night beating The Rock in fast break points 17-7.
Hardwood Series
Wednesday's matchup will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Pioneers and the Golden Eagles with Malone holding the 4-2 series lead coming into this match up. In late November of 2019, the Pioneers came out of Pennsylvania with a 69-48 win. In that game, then Sophomore (now Senior) Robin Campbell scored her career-high 28 points and went a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe.
Knowing Your Opponent
Clarion University's last game was a Monday night pounding of 102-57 over Penn State Shenango in which freshman Sierra Bermudez broke the program's 29-year-old single-game scoring record with 44 points, topping the previous mark of 43 set in November of 1992. She also broke a record (9) set in January of 2000 for most three-pointers in a single game finishing the night with 12 shots sunk beyond the arc. In addition, she tied a program record for three-pointers attempted in a game with 19 and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Overall, Bermudez now leads the team with 77 points scored in four games and shooting 40.5% (17-42) from beyond the arc. Other key performances against the Nittany Lions came with Abby Gatesman and Emily Hegedus both scoring in double digits with 21 and 12 respectively. In total thirteen different Golden Eagles have made appearances and all thirteen have scored at some point in the early season.
Defensively, Clarion has two strong forces in junior Jada Smith and sophomore Abby Gatesman. Both have recorded more than 20 rebounds - Smith has pulled down 26 in three games and Gatesman has 23 in four game appearances. Both of them have 6 steals each on the early season and Gatesman edges out her teammate with seven blocks to Smith's five.
Looking Ahead
The Pioneers head to Pepper Pike, Ohio for their first away game of the season and conference play opener against the Ursuline College Arrows. The December 2nd tip off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit malonepioneers.com
