CANTON, Ohio -- The Malone University women's basketball team completed the season sweep of the Hillsdale College Chargers on Thursday night with a 78-64 win inside Osborne Hall. 

The Pioneers (7-9, 7-9 G-MAC) weathered an early onslaught from the Chargers (2-14, 2-14 G-MAC). Malone took control of the game in the second quarter, and pulled away from Hillsdale in the second half for the win.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Hillsdale jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before Mikayla Poole got Malone on the board with a jumpshot from just inside the paint. With the Pioneers trailing 11-4 Lexi Manos and Holly Groff connected on back-to-back three-pointers to make it 11-10. 

The Chargers stretched their lead back out to six points, but this time Malone countered with a 9-0 run to capture their first lead of the ballgame.

Poole made good on a pair of free throws, and on the ensuing possession Emma Kallas made a steal and converted a layup on the other end to make it 16-14. The Pioneer defense made another stop and Alexis Hutchison drilled the first of her four triples to put Malone on top 17-16. The two teams traded baskets during the final minute of the quarter allowing the Pioneers to carry a 19-18 advantage into the second. 

Early in the second quarter Hillsdale recaptured the lead, and quickly stretched their advantage out to 27-22. Malone had an answer however, this time using a 10-0 run to grab a lead that would ultimately stand the rest of the contest. 

Five quick points from Hutchison tied the game at 27-27. Groff followed with a jumper inside the paint, and Hutchison capped the run with a three to put the Pioneers up 32-27.

Much like the end of the opening quarter, the teams traded scores late in the second with Malone ultimately taking a 42-37 lead to the halftime locker room.

Five unanswered points from Hillsdale to open the third quarter tied the game at 42-42. A Robin Campbell jumpshot kickstarted the Pioneer offense, and by the five minute mark of the period Malone found themselves leading 53-45.

The Pioneers continued to find scores on the offensive end, but defensively could not quite put Hillsdale away in the third. Still, after thirty minutes of basketball Malone held a 59-51 advantage. 

The Chargers looked to have some late life, as once again they opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter with a three-pointer. This time however the Pioneers quickly dashed any hopes of a comeback. 

Campbell answered the Hillsdale triple with one of her own before layups from Bri Lucas and Groff put Malone on top 66-54. The Pioneers' lead only fell below double-digits once down the stretch when the Chargers made it 73-64 with less than a minute to play. 

Malone was money from the free throw line inside that final minute though, converting on five of their final six attempts to close out the 78-64 win. 

PIONEER POINTS

• Alexis Hutchison led all scorers in the game with 27 points. That number surpasses her career-high of 22 that she just set in Malone's last game at Walsh. The sophomore guard was 11-21 from the field and 4-8 from distance. 

• Robin Campbell scored 9 points, all of them coming in the second-half. Her pair of free throws in the final seconds helped push her past the 1,000 point mark for her Pioneer career. She now stands at 1,001 career points.

• Holly Groff was the only other Malone player in double-digits. She finished with 14 points, and also led the team with six assists.

• The Pioneers held a slight 32-27 rebounding edge over Hillsdale, but dominated the points in the paint number 38-16.

• Malone's defense forced the Chargers into 16 steals which led to 14 points on the offensive end of the floor. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday when they host the University of Findlay. Malone will honor their senior class prior to the 1:00 p.m. tip-off.