ASHLAND, Ohio -- In their first game back from the Christmas holiday break, the Malone University women's basketball team faced one of their toughest tests of the season. 

The Pioneers traveled to Ashland University on Wednesday night. The Eagles are currently ranked as the No. 8 team in the country in the most recent WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. 

Malone trailed 36-30 at halftime, and were within just one possession several times in the second-half.

Unfortunately the Eagles pulled away down the stretch for the 77-58 win. 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ashland's offense hit their stride right out of the gate. The Eagles shot 5-8 from behind the three-point line in the opening quarter to build up an early 27-13 lead. 

Malone's defense dug in for the second quarter, and limited the high-scoring Eagles to a 25% shooting percentage and just nine total points. 

On the other end of the floor the Pioneers' offense used a balanced scoring attack to get back into the game. 

After Ashland pushed their lead out to 19 points with the first two baskets inside the first minute of the quarter, the Eagles only scored four more points over the next nine minutes. 

A layup from Kelsey Swihart cut the deficit down to just nine points for Malone with 3:28 still to play in the half. A couple of possessions later Brooklyn Troyer's three-pointer made it a 34-30 game. 

The Eagles got the final score of the half, and the teams went back to their locker rooms with Ashland leading 36-30. 

Ashland opened up the third quarter scoring with the first bucket out of the break, but Malone kept pace. 

Emma Kallas scored the first second-half points for the Pioneers, and after a steal by Holly Groff, Robin Campbell converted a layup on the other end to cut Ashland's lead down to 38-34. 

The Eagles answered right back with two more points, but then Holly Groff responded with a transition three-pointer that made it a one-possession game at 40-37. 

Both teams continued to swap baskets for most of the third quarter, with the Pioneers getting as close as 47-45 on a pair of free throws from Groff.

Unfortunately the Eagles ended the quarter on a 6-2 run to push their lead out to 53-47. 

Groff opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter to make it a six-point game, but it was all Ashland down the stretch. 

The Eagles quickly had their lead out to double-digits with 8:19 still to play, and the Pioneers struggled to recover. 

In the end, Ashland scored 24 points in the final quarter en route to a 77-58 win.

PIONEER POINTS

• Robin Campbell led Malone with 14 points. She was 7-10 from the field. 
• Alexis Hutchison (13) and Holly Groff (11) also scored in double-digits for the Pioneers.
• Malone outscored Ashland 40-36 inside of the paint, and outrebounded the Eagles 28-27.
• Groff and Madison Hunter led the Pioneers with five rebounds each. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone will begin the 2022 portion of their season with two conference home games. On January 3rd, they will host the Dragons of Tiffin University. Tip off from Osborne Hall is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.