ASHLAND, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team was unable to withstand a comeback effort by #8 Ashland University on Thursday night and ultimately fell to the nationally ranked Eagles 53-46. The loss for the Pioneers is their third in the last four games to fall to 19-5 overall and 13-3 inside the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Ashland is now 23-3 and 15-1 in conference play.
 
A tightly contested first quarter saw both squads come out tight. The teams combined for 14 turnovers and the Pioneers were held to 22.2% (2-of-9) from the field. A 7-0 run for Malone from a Brinn Hunt three, an Abbey Price layup and a pair of Aila Miller free throws gave the Pioneers a slight lead after they fell behind 4-0 in the first four minutes. It was 8-8 through one period of action.
 
A 12-2 run from 8:47 to 4:54 in the second quarter was key in Malone laying claim to a 25-17 halftime advantage. The Pioneers diversified their first half scoring with eight different student-athletes on the board, led by Hunt and Erin Kaufman with five points apiece. Malone's defense kept the Eagles in check at 36.4% from the field at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Ashland scored the first seven points, but a three by Kyli Horn halted the scoring run for the home team. A pair of baskets by Brooklyn Troyer and a late three-point field goal from Kylee Bruce helped keep the Pioneers in front 39-37 through 30 minutes.
 
The Eagles had trailed for a majority of the second, third and fourth quarters, but a 9-0 run highlighted by a successful three-point try with 4:06 to play in the game allowed Ashland to reclaim the lead, 46-43. The Eagles were able to break down the zone defense from Malone and made free throws late in the game to seal the 53-46 win.
 
The Pioneers netted just three points over the final 9:12 of the game and were outscored 36-21 in the second half. Malone was 16-for-50 (32.0%) from the field, including a 1-for-13 fourth quarter. Two of the three games for the Pioneers with their lowest field goal percentage have come against Ashland. Malone was without a double-digit scorer, but Kaufman led in both points with nine and rebounds with seven. The Pioneers had a 21-7 advantage in bench points, but lost the rebounding battle 33-28.
 
Malone has a week off before hosting Tiffin University on Thursday, February 20 beginning at 5:30 P.M.