FINDLAY, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team used a key third quarter run to claim a 79-75 victory to begin the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) slate with a win at the University of Findlay.
 
The Pioneers are now 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the G-MAC while the Oilers fall to 5-3 and 0-1 inside the league.
 
Senior Kyli Horn scored 16 of her team-high 19 points in the second half and she was 5-of-6 from behind the deep line. Junior Erin Kaufman had 16 points and nine rebounds. Junior Aila Miller and freshman Abbey Price had big contributions off the bench with nine and eight points, respectively.
 
A season-high 15 triples for Malone was the difference as Findlay was just 3-for-15 (20.0%) on the night. The Pioneers were credited with 19 assists on 26 made field goals, led by Price and junior Brinn Hunt with four apiece. The Oilers owned the paint to the tune of a 46-16 edge in scoring.
 
Findlay led 24-17 after one quarter thanks to 11 makes on 18 attempts in the period. The Oilers began the game up 15-7 just before the first media timeout. Miller had a pair of makes to close the first quarter strong.
 
Price and Kaufman provided early offense in the second quarter with back-to-back three-point field goals on the first two Malone possessions. Junior Nataley Armstrong, Horn, freshman Kylee Bruce and Hunt each added their names to the three-point parade to cut into the Findlay advantage 41-37 at halftime. All six makes for the Pioneers in the second were from distance.
 
Horn had the first seven points of the third to draw back to even at 44 all. Scoring from Price and junior Anna Krupa helped Malone to take their first lead since 2-0 and senior Brooklyn Troyer was true on a jump shot with three seconds remaining to go up 57-55 with ten minutes remaining.
 
Findlay would go back in front in the fourth quarter despite successful three-point tries from Horn and Kaufman. The Oilers led by one 73-72 going into the final two minutes of play. The duo of Kaufman and Horn would strike again as the senior nailed a clutch shot from downtown to take the lead once more.
 
A stand by the defense gave Miller the opportunity to ice the game at the free throw line and she would do just that by going 4-for-4 in the final seconds of the game in the 79-75 victory.
 
Conference play continues on Saturday, December 7 when the Pioneers make the trip to Hillsdale College to square off with the Chargers beginning at 1:00 P.M.