CANTON – Thursday night the Malone University women's basketball team will play their first game of the 2022 calendar year after a postponement of the game against Tiffin on January 3rd.

Matchup: Malone University Pioneers (7-5, 3-3 G-MAC) vs University of Findlay (5-7, 3-3 G-MAC)
Where: Canton, Ohio | Osborne Hall
When: Thursday, January 6 | 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: Malone University Ticket Office 
Live Video Stream: Great Midwest Digital Network
Live Stats: Great Midwest Digital Network

Looking for a Win in the New Year
The last time the women's basketball team hit the court was on December 29th against the newest member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and nationally ranked Ashland University. While Malone trailed 36-30 at halftime and were withing just one possession several times during the second-half, the Eagles pulled away and won 77-58.

Robin Campbell led Malone with 14 points as she went 7-of-10 from the field. Alexis Hutchison and Holly Groff rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 and 11 points respectively. Groff and Madison Hunter led the Pioneers with five rebounds each as they helped Malone outrebound Ashland 28-27. 

Malone will enter the 2022 calendar portion of their schedule as the second best field goal shooting team as they have shot 47.8%. They rank fourth in the GMAC for three-point shooting with 35.7%. Groff leads the Pioneers with 29 sunk shots from beyond the arc (placing her 6th in the GMAC for shots made and 10th in three-point shooting percentage).

With 13 points against Findlay on Thursday, Holly Groff will tie Debbie Grant for sixth place on Malone's All-Time Scoring List at 1449. Robin Campbell will enter the game with 1237 placing her in the 14th spot overall on the same list.

Hardwood Series
Thursday will be the 33rd all-time meeting between the Oilers and the Pioneers, with Findlay holding a commanding 29-3 series lead. 

The last time Findlay and Malone met was in February of 2021 when the Oilers came out of Osborne Hall with a 61-56 win. Alexis Hutchison shot 8-of-14 on her way to scoring a team-high 24 points and Robin Campbell was the only other player in double-digits with 19 points. Holly Groff pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds and dished out a team-high 4 assists. Malone's defense forced Findlay into 19 turnovers and turned them into 26 points on the offensive end of the floor.

The last win for the Pioneers over the Oilers came in late February of 2016 when Malone had a 74-70 triumph that spoiled Findlay's senior day and postseason hopes that season.

Knowing Your Opponent
Findlay will enter Osborne Hall after falling to the Ursuline Arrows at home on January 2nd with a final score of 68-62. 

Paige Bellman paced Findlay with 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Oilers. Senior forward Bridget Landin finished the game with a double-double as she shot 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Sydney Kin leads the team in points per game, as she is the only Oiler player averaging double-digits with 16.7 in her twelve starts as well as a team-high of 9.1 rebounds per game.

Findlay is averaging just under 65 points per game on the offensive end. The Oilers are pulling down an average 37.2 rebounds per conference game, including 27.2 on the defensive end of the court.

Looking Ahead
Malone will begin a short road-stint when they travel to Hillsdale, Michigan to tip off against Hillsdale College on Saturday January 8th. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.