CANTON – After a break in games due to COVID-19 protocols last week, the women's basketball team is back in action as they head to crosstown rival Walsh University.

Saturday's game will be the 26th Annual Mayors' Cup honoring the rivalry on the women's side.

Matchup: Malone University Pioneers (11-7, 7-5 G-MAC) vs Walsh University (17-3, 12-2 G-MAC)
Where: North Canton, Ohio | Alumni Arena
When: Saturday, February 5 | 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: Walsh University Ticket Office
Live Video Stream: Great Midwest Digital Network
Live Stats: Great Midwest Digital Network

Two Weeks Since Last Pioneer Action
The last time the Pioneers hit the court was on January 22nd when they hosted Ursuline College. Malone never trailed and finished the afternoon with an 82-59 victory. 

Holly Groff led the Pioneers with 19 points after shooting 7-11 from the field and 5-9 from beyond the arc. She leads the Pioneers in scoring, averaging almost 15 points per game.

Alexis Hutchison and Robin Campbell also scored in double-digits. For the seventh game in a row, Campbell topped the double-digit mark and her fifteenth time this season. She also tops the conference in average assists per game.

As a team, the Pioneers led in almost every statistical category including outscoring Ursuline 36-22 inside of the paint and tying a season high in shooting 57.9% from the field by shooting 33-57.

The games originally scheduled for last week at Kentucky Wesleyan College and Trevecca Nazarene University had been postponed for COVID-19 protocols within the GMAC.

Hardwood Series
Saturday's game will be the 89th all-time meeting between the Pioneers and the Cavaliers and the 26th Annual Mayors' Cup. Walsh holds a 51-37 series lead over Malone.

In December the two teams faced off in Osborne Hall. Walsh took a three point lead at halftime and extended it in the second half of play to win 83-73. 

In last year's Mayors' Cup, Malone went on some big runs in the first half to lead 45-31 into the halftime locker room. While the Cavaliers pulled within single digits in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers were able to hang onto the lead and closed out the 84-71 win to bring the Cup to Canton for the first time since December of 2016.

Malone had five double-digit scorers and dominated Walsh underneath the basket by outscoring the Cavaliers 50-28 on points in the paint.

Knowing Your Opponent
Walsh University comes into the contest in second place in the G-MAC behind only Ashland University and with a nine game win streak. The latest win came on February 2nd in overtime over Tiffin University. Tiffin led by four after the first twenty minutes and extended it to nine heading into the final period of regulation.

The Cavaliers made up the difference as they outscored the Dragons 16-7 to send the game to overtime, where Walsh was able to finish with a 55-54 victory. Morgan McMillen led with 15 points for Walsh. Mayci Sales was the only other Cavalier player scoring in double-digits and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double this season.

Sha Carter leads the conference in points per game (17.8) and offensive rebounds (70). McMillen is the top three-point shooter in the conference shooting 49% and averaging 3.6 shots from beyond the arc. Walsh has three of the top shooters in the conference - Sales (56.4% for 3rd), Carter (55.9% for 4th), and McMillen (50% for 10th).

Looking Ahead
Malone will be back at home next week when they host Hillsdale College. The February 10 tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.