WEST LIBERTY, West Virginia -- The Pioneers were on the road Saturday afternoon for a non-conference game against the Hilltoppers of West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. 

Malone (7-3, 3-1 G-MAC) outscored the Hilltoppers (9-3, 6-1 MEC) during the first-half, and held a thirteen-point lead at the break. West Liberty then matched the output of the Pioneers in the second-half to secure the 71-65 win. 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The two sides traded baskets during the majority of the first quarter, with neither side able to distance itself from the other.

After a bucket inside the paint by Alexis Hutchison with 29 seconds left in the quarter, Malone took their first double-digit lead of the afternoon at 21-11.

The trey by Robin Campbell at the 6:54 mark in the second quarter initiated another huge run that put the Pioneers up 28-13, their largest lead of the game.

Malone struggled offensively and did not put points on the board for three minutes and eight seconds. However, Madison Hunter ended the Pioneers scoring drought with a layup.

With three seconds in the quarter, Nikki Weber grabbed a steal, and then scissored down the length of the court to convert on a layup to give Malone some breathing room with a 37-24 advantage heading into halftime.

For the first two minutes and 26 seconds of the third quarter, the Hilltoppers went on a 12-6 run to cut the Pioneers lead down to 43-34.

West Liberty's defense really grabbed hold of the game down the stretch, not allowing Malone to score for four minutes and 24 seconds. 

Late in the quarter, the Hilltoppers grabbed another large run that allowed them to decrease their deficit only by one point.

However, the Pioneers refused to fold. With six seconds left in the quarter, Holly Groff netted a triple to extend Malone's lead out to 54-49.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, West Liberty tied the game at 61 all after a three-point play by Arriana Manzay.

With a couple minutes left in the game, the Hilltoppers took their first lead of the game after Bailee Smith nailed a shot beyond the arc.

Unfortunately, the Pioneers could not respond back, and West Liberty pulled away to snatch a 71-65 victory.


PIONEER POINTS

• Holly Groff led the Pioneers in scoring with a team-high 15 points. She was 4-14 from the field and was 5-6 from the foul line.
• Robin Campbell added 14 points for Malone and had a team-high four assists.
• Alexis Hutchison (13) and Madison Hunter (10) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Pioneers. Hutchinson also had a team-high five rebounds.
• Malone had a distinct advantage underneath the basket, outscoring the Hilltoppers 36-32 inside the paint. The Pioneers also took advantage of West Liberty's turnovers, converting 17 points from their mistakes.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone will continue their road stand to finish the 2021 calendar year with a trip to Pepper Pike, Ohio for the rescheduled game against the Ursuline College Arrows. Tip off on December 20th is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.