Jimmy Styer

Box Score

Malone MU 15-12,11-9 G-MAC

Ky. Wesleyan KWC 19-9,15-6 G-MAC

Malone MU

15-12,11-9 G-MAC

Final

Mar. 01, 2022

Ky. Wesleyan KWC

19-9,15-6 G-MAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Malone MU	25	11	9	17	62
Ky. Wesleyan KWC	18	11	17	18	64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 03/01/22 | Malone Sports Information - Kate Daugherty

Panthers End Pioneers Season with Game-Winning Free Throws

Owensboro, Kentucky – In the opening round of the 2022 Great Midwest Women's Basketball Tournament, the No. 6 seed Malone Pioneers traveled to Kentucky to take on the No. 3 seed Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers.

The Pioneers (15-12, 11-9 GMAC) scored first and would take a seven point lead into the halftime locker room. However, the Panthers (19-9, 15-6 GMAC) would outscore Malone 17-9 in the third quarter to take the lead.

Malone would fight back and tie the game at 62 with less than a minute to go before KWC was able to seal the 64-62 win with a pair of last-second free throws.

The Pioneers finish their 2021-2022 season with a 15-12 overall record and a 11-9 mark over Great Midwest Athletic Conference opponents. It's the programs third winning season since Head Coach Selana Reale took over the program ahead of the 2018-2019 season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Holly Groff scored the first five points of the game with a three-point shot and a jumper. It would be her first of six shots beyond the arc on the night. Madison Hunter got a layup to give Malone a seven-point run to start the game.

The Panthers and the Pioneers would trade baskets, but the Pioneers shot five total three-pointers in the opening quarter and were led by Groff, who scored 11 points after shooting 3 three-pointers within the first ten minutes. Hunter's three at the 3:05 mark gave Malone their largest lead at twelve.

KWC would score on the first possession of the second quarter and then the defense for both teams ramped up. The next score for the game was at the 5:59 mark with yet another layup by Hunter.

A shot from Emma Johnson in the paint would get the Panthers within a point. Groff responded with back-to-back shots to extend the Pioneer lead. Malone would take a 36-29 lead into the halftime break.

Malone's first three points of the third quarter would come from the charity stripe as the Panthers came out with offensive energy. At 6:38 the Panthers sank a three-pointer to again get within a point, but Robin Campbell sank her own three-pointer in retaliation.

Alexis Hutchison scored the last Pioneer points with her third three-pointer of the night at the 4:34 mark to give the Pioneers a six point lead. But the Panthers went on a 7-0 run to end the third quarter and to give the home team its first lead of the night.

KWC didn't miss a beat as they began the final period of play with a 7-0 scoring run to put them up by eight. Holly Groff would score another of her threes to end the almost seven minute scoring drought for the Pioneers.

The combination of Campbell and Groff brought the game to a tie at 55 with 4:07 to play, before KWC gained a five point lead. Campbell and Groff worked to bring Malone even with the Panthers with under a minute to play.

While both teams seemed prepared for overtime, it was a last second foul called on the Pioneers that sent Cali Nolot to the charity stripe for the Panthers. The two good free-throws gave Kentucky Wesleyan the win and ended the Pioneers season.

PIONEER POINTS

In her final game as a Pioneer, Holly Groff led all scorers with her 30 points. It's her second thirty-point game this season, as the first time was the season opener against University of Indianapolis (32). She had a season-high six three-pointers and grabbed three steals.
Alexis Hutchison scored 12 of her own points as she went 3-7 from three-point range to tie a season-high of three-pointers made. She also grabbed three steals.
Robin Campbell and Madison Hunter rounded out Pioneer scorers with 11 and 9 points, respectively. Of the four Malone scorers, each recorded at least one shot from beyond the arc.
Emma Kallas led Pioneers in rebounds (9) and assists (6). In addition, Kallas got a steal and the only block of the game.
As a team, Malone went 10-14 from the field in their explosive 25-point first quarter. They also slightly outscored KWC 15-14 on points scored off turnovers as the Panthers had 19 turnovers compared to Malone's 17.

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 malonepioneers.com.

Print Friendly Version