PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team used a quick start to the game en route to a 72-56 triumph over Lake Erie College on Saturday afternoon. The win pushes the mark to 8-2 on the year and a perfect 3-0 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) competition. The Storm fall to 2-4 and 0-2 in league play.
 
Malone won the first quarter 25-11 thanks to a 9-of-14 shooting performance from the field. Three-point field goals by Abbey Price and Anna Krupa off the bench helped to extend the lead to double figures early and Brinn Hunt would conclude the period with a three of her own.
 
The same result at the end of the second quarter with Hunt burying a three-point try pushed the lead to 19 at 46-27. Kyli Horn, Erin Kaufman and Brooklyn Troyer all made a huge impact offensively in the quarter as well.
 
The offense slowed in the third quarter, but the Pioneers continued to maintain the distance they had built for themselves. Lake Erie was able to claim the fourth quarter, but it was not enough after Malone held a 21-point advantage going into the final ten minutes of play. Elena Oliver, Katie Kaufman and Ashley Lehmers all scored in the fourth quarter of the 72-56 win.
 
Hunt led the Pioneers in scoring with 16 points while Kaufman (13 points) and Horn (11 points) were also in double figures. Krupa pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and dished out four assists to contribute to the victory.
 
As a team defensively, the Storm were held to 37.0% (17-for-46) from the field with 17 turnovers. Malone used a 34-20 advantage in rebounding to score 12 additional points on second chance opportunities.
 
The Pioneers will play their first conference home game of the season on Monday, December 16 against Kentucky Wesleyan College. It will be the program's Toys for Tots Doubleheader that begins at 1:00 P.M.