SLIPPERY ROCK, Penn. – The Malone University women's basketball team traveled to Pennsylvania for their final non-conference game before the Thanksgiving holiday as they tipped off against The Rock of Slippery Rock University.

The game was back and forth as neither team got a double-digit lead, but it was Slippery Rock that came out with the 60-58 victory.

 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University 58 – Slippery Rock University 60

• Records: Malone (3-2, 0-0 G-MAC) | SRU (4-1, 0-0 PSAC)

• Location: Morrow Field House, Slippery Rock, PA

 

THE GAME
The Pioneers found themselves in a hole right away as the Rock opened the game with a 9-2 run. Malone would not be down for long, as the seven point deficit was the largest deficit for the Pioneers for the game.

A layup from Erin Kaufman started an eleven point run for the Pioneers. Seven of those points were scored by Alexis Hutchison and Brooklyn Troyer on fastbreaks.

Malone would take a slight lead after the first quarter. Hutchison would give Malone its first points of the second quarter at the 7:42 mark on a fastbreak layup. 

Brinn Hunt sank a layup with 4:11 left in the first half to give Malone its biggest lead of the night at six. However, a late second quarter run by Slippery Rock would mean the teams headed to the locker room tied at 27 points apiece.

Slippery Rock would jump out to a six point lead out of the halftime locker room. Hunt would get the last score of the third frame to put the Pioneers within four of the home team.

A pair of free throws from Kaufman meant Malone had a slight lead a few minutes into the fourth quarter, but it was quickly flipped back to the Rock as Isabellah Middleton made a three. The Pioneers would be chasing for the rest of the game.

The comeback effort was led by Hutchison who scored six unanswered but it wasn't enough as Slippery Rock got a steal with 2 seconds left to stop the Pioneers from a tying or game-winning shot.

THE DETAILS
Alexis Hutchison once again was the game's top scorer with 22 points. She was pretty even on the afternoon as she split her points, rebounds, steals, and assists perfectly between the first and second half.

Erin Kaufman was the only other Pioneer in double-digits as she went 4-7 from the field and sank both her free throws. Kaufman also pulled down 7 rebounds, six of which were on the defensive side of the court. She also recorded a game-high two blocks.

Off the bench, Brooklyn Troyer pulled down 8 rebounds and added 8 points.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Pioneers will return home to open up Great Midwest Athletic Conference play as they host Tiffin University. Tip-off against the Dragon on December 1 is at 5:30pm from Osborne Hall.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
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