CANTON – The Malone University women's basketball team welcomed in the Mountain Cats of University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Saturday afternoon.

The game belonged to the Pioneers as they dominated the entire matchup with the final tally 96-56. It's Malone's first win over UPJ.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University 96 – University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 56
• Records: Malone (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | UPJ (2-1, 0-0 PSAC)
• Location: Osborne Hall, Canton, Ohio

THE GAME
Erin Kaufman scored the first points of the game. The Mountain Cats and the Pioneers traded scores for the first couple of minutes. Alexis Hutchison handed the ball to Kaufman for a layup for the foundation of Malone's eventual 40 point lead.

Nine of the Pioneers' 24 points in the first frame came from free throws. Emma Kallas and Hutchison each sank four charity stripe shots. Malone carred a double-digit lead out of the first frame and for the remainder of the game.

Freshman Anna Krupa scored her first points as a Pioneer with a fastbreak with 2:20 left on the clock.

A three-pointer from Kyli Horn towards the beginning of second quarter capped off a 10 point-run for the Pioneers.

At the buzzer Brooklyn Troyer sank a three-pointer, and sent Malone to the halftime locker room with a looming 55-21 lead.  

The second half started in a similar fashion with the two teams trading baskets for a couple of minutes. UPJ however, was on the outside looking in, as they couldn't cut into the lead. The closest they came was within 31 points. 

Hutchison opened the final period with an old-fashioned three point play. Before a minute had even been played in the final frame, she grabbed her tenth rebound to earn her first double-double of the season. 

With 2:50 left to play in the game, Brianna Fitzgerald scored her first points in the Malone uniform. It gave Malone their largest lead of the night at 46, and also filled out the scoring column as all nine Pioneers had scored.

Toryer rounded out the game's scoring to give Malone their largest margin of victory since defeating Lake Erie College 112-63 on December 31, 2020.

DETAILS
Alexis Hutchison led all scorers with 21 points. She was on triple-double watch as she tied her career-highs with 11 rebounds and 8 assists.

Emma Kallas was on double-double watch with her career-high 19 points and 9 rebounds. Eleven of her points came from the charity stripe, where she shot 11-12.

Brooklyn Troyer contributed 19 points off the bench. She went 3-4 from beyond the arc. Erin Kaufman and Brinn Hunt rounded out double-digit scorers with 10 and 11 points, respectively.

Anna Krupa and Brianna Fitzgerald both scored their first career points. Fitzgerald also tacked on a block towards the end of the game. Krupa grabbed 6 rebounds.

As a team, the Pioneers shot 52.6% from the field and sank 28 of 35 free throws. The 28 made free throws is the most since January of 2020 when the Pioneers sank 31 at Wheeling.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Pioneers will hit the road for the final game before the Thanksgiving holiday. Tip-off on Wednesday at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania is set for 1:00pm.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
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 www.malonepioneers.com.