CANTON, Ohio - The #25 Malone University women's basketball team won their eighth game in a row on Saturday afternoon in Osborne Hall. Malone defeated the Tiffin University Dragons 76-61 to improve to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) competition. In the loss, Tiffin falls to 4-3 overall and 0-2 in G-MAC action.
 
The Pioneers came out of the gates hot in the first quarter opening the game with an 8-0 run to grab the early momentum to start the game. Malone had a stellar shooting percentage in the period at 10-for-17 (58.8 FG%) and knock down five threes in a 27-15 first quarter.
 
In the second, the Pioneers picked up right where they left off in the first quarter by getting stops and converting their shots on their end of the floor. Halfway through the second, senior forward Aila Miller hit a three-pointer to extend Malone lead to 37-20, their largest of the day. The Pioneers would continue to control the momentum as they went into halftime with a 41-31 lead.
 
In the third quarter, the game took on a different feeling as the Pioneers would have a 50-37 lead erased to a three-point game behind a 12-4 run by the Dragons in the period. Senior forward Erin Kaufman hit a big layup to stop the Tiffin run with 1:05 left in the period. Despite the surge by the Dragons, the Pioneers were able to hold the 57-52 lead heading into a tight fourth quarter.
 
The Dragons were able to keep up their pressure in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter and an 18-6 run trimmed the Pioneer lead down to just one point at 59-58 with 7:28 left. Despite the Dragons testing the undefeated Pioneers at home, Malone would stay poised down the stretch hitting as junior forward Elena Oliver would hit a critical pair of free throws and redshirt sophomore guard Meredith Randulic would force a steal and convert on a transition layup to put the Pioneers up 65-59 with 4:44 to play.
 
The Pioneer offense improved tremendously with Kaufman back in the game down the stretch as they were able to close out the contest on a 15-2 run and outscored the Dragons 19-9 in the final quarter. In the end, the Pioneers were able to hold off a pecky Dragons squad to secure the 76-61 win.
 
Kaufman shined with an outstanding 30-point and 12-rebound double-double as she was able to score crucial baskets and free throws for the Pioneers down the strength of a tight fourth quarter. Oliver, Randulic and sophomore guard Alyssa Geiser each had eight points.
 
Statistically, the Pioneers won a number of critical areas in the win including second chance points (16-4) and points off turnovers (26-13). Malone also won the points in the paint behind a huge fourth quarter where they outscored the Dragons 14-6 in the paint.
 
Following the big home win for Malone, the nationally-ranked Pioneers will look to remain undefeated on the road next week against the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets on Wednesday, December 11 at 5:30 P.M.