CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team is going into the new year off a massive 108-33 win over Bryant & Stratton College. The 19th-ranked Pioneers are now 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and the Bobcats are 4-10 overall.
 
Malone started the game with a huge scoring run not allowing any points from Bryant & Stratton until 3:25 left in the first quarter. The run was highlighted with baskets from Anna Krupa, Erin Kaufman, Elena Oliver, Brinn Hunt, Irene Maroto, Aila Miller, Katie Kaufman, and Meredith Randulic which put them up 26-0. An abundance of steals also highlighted throughout the large run. The Bobcats first points came off their own short lived scoring run. Kylee Bruce hit two triples to end the first with a score of 32-6.
 
Layups from Bridget Barber and Katie Kaufman started the second quarter. Bryant & Stratton hit some free throws, but the Pioneers were able to keep their 30-point lead off an and-one from Katie Kaufman with 7:59 on the clock. A layup from Nataley Armstrong at 3:12 put Malone up by 40, 53-13. Bruce ended the second with two made foul shots which made the score 57-15. The Pioneers shot 100% from the line in the second at 7-for-7.
 
At 7:03 in the third, Hunt hit a three to extend the Malone lead to 50, 65-15. Another three from Miller put the Pioneers up 70-15. Randulic would end the quarter with a jumper to make the score 79-22. To start the fourth quarter, Erin Kaufman, Bruce, Maroto, and Oliver would net baskets to make the score 91-26 with 7:36 on the clock. Katie Kaufman netted two foul shots to cross the century mark at 100-28.
 
At 2:20 left in the game Kamryn Ruffin hit a triple with an assist from Alyssa Geiser. To end the game, Geiser hit a free throw and Barber netted a bucket to make the final 108-33. The Pioneers shot 58.8% from the field in the fourth quarter at 10-for-17 and 66.7% from the three-point line (4-for-6).
 
Malone beat their NCAA Division II program record for most steals in a game with 24. The previous number was 18 from the 2023-24 season. They were one rebound short of beating their program record for most rebounds in a game with 57. The Pioneers won in points off turnovers 45-8, second chance points 30-0, points in the paint 52-10, fast break points 14-4, and bench points 70-27.
 
Leading Malone was Erin Kaufman and Miller with 14 points each. Erin Kaufman was 4-for-5 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line. Maroto was close behind them with 13 points and Katie Kaufman with 12. Krupa led the team in rebounds with nine, five offensive and four defensive. Hunt and Armstrong each ended with five assists and Armstrong also had 4 steals.
 
Next, the Pioneers travel to Hillsdale College for a G-MAC matchup. Tip-off will begin at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 3.