CANTON – For their final game in 2022, the Malone University Women's Basketball team welcomed a non-conference opponent in the Wilberforce University Bulldogs.

The Pioneers scored first and never relinquished that lead as they went on to win by a final score of 71-48.

The Pioneers have now won eight of their nine home games and sit in third place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) standings.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University 71 – Wilberforce University 48
• Records: Malone (9-4, 4-2 G-MAC) | Wilberforce (3-11, 0-9 CAC)
• Location: Canton, Ohio | Osborne Hall

THE GAME
Alexis Hutchison began the scoring after the opening 90 seconds went scoreless. Emma Kallas extended the Malone lead with back to back shots in the paint.

Wilberforce's first points were off a pair of free throws at the 6:12 mark. The Pioneers gained an eight-point advantage before the Bulldogs made an run to get within a point. Kyli Horn helped to put some distance back on the board with a three-point shot.

Brooklyn Troyer closed out the first quarter with a shot from beyond the arc to put the Pioneers up 17-12. Malone had already pulled down 15 total rebounds, 10 of which were on the Bulldogs' end of the court.

About two minutes into the second quarter, Hutchison added her own three-pointer. Wilberforce continued to keep pace with the Pioneers as they did not allow for Malone to take a double-digit lead until the 3:12 mark when Horn added another three-pointer.

Hutchison had the final score of the first half to send the teams to the locker rooms with Malone leading 38-27.

The second half started with the Pioneers taking a 7-2 run to increase their lead to 16 points. A Bulldogs three-pointer brought Wilberforce within eight with three minutes left in third quarter.

Within the final two minutes of the third period, the Pioneers went a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. To that point in the game, Malone had gone 14 of 16 from the charity stripe.

The final ten minutes began with another Hutchison score from beyond the arc. She would go on to score seven of 23 total points during the final period. 

Wilberforce's final point of the game came off a free-throw at the 4:17 mark. In those final few minutes both team's defense kicked into action with a combined 10 defensive rebounds.

Brianna Fitzgerald sank four free-throws and Brooklyn Troyer sank one from the charity stripe in that time as well to close out the 71-48 win.

THE DETAILS

• Alexis Hutchison lead all-scorers with 23 points and pulled down a career-tying 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Today marks 17 straight games for Hutchison reaching the double-digit mark, dating back to last season.
• Erin Kaufman also had her third season double-double with her 10 points and 10 rebounds. Brooklyn Troyer was on double-double watch with her 10 points and 9 rebounds. All of Troyer's rebounds were on the defensive end.
• Emma Kallas also had double digit scoring with her 14 points. Nataley Armstrong had two blocks and two steals on the afternoon.
• As a team, the Pioneers forced the Bulldogs into 13 turnovers that they converted to 14 points on the other end of the court. They also outscored Wilberforce on second chance points 16-5.

WHAT'S NEXT
The women's basketball team will have their final non-conference game of the season on Monday January 2nd as they travel to Wheeling University. Tip off from the Alma McDonough Center in West Virginia is set for 5:30 p.m.

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.