CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team won a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) game versus Ohio Dominican University on Thursday evening by a score of 58-47. The Pioneers are now 21-6 overall and 15-4 in conference play. The Panthers fall to 12-15 and 7-12 against league opponents.
Malone had to find a way to win on a night where the team did not shoot well. The Pioneers were just 20-of-55 (36.4%) from the field, but defensively, held Ohio Dominican to 18-of-55 (32.7%). Malone outrebounded their conference foes 43-32, led by junior
Erin Kaufman with 15, a mark that ties her season-high (January 11 at Ohio Dominican).
The Pioneers claimed a 5-0 lead thanks in part to a three by junior
Brinn Hunt, but surrendered the advantage for a brief moment late in the first quarter. Junior
Nataley Armstrong buried a three-point field goal to help Malone take a 13-10 lead through the first ten minutes of action.
Malone took firm control at halftime 29-19 with a 16-9 second quarter edge. Senior
Brooklyn Troyer knocked down a pair of shots from long range and fellow classmate
Kyli Horn hit one of her own in the period. The seniors combined for 13 of the 16 points in the second.
The lead grew to a game-high 14 points with a made jump shot by junior
Aila Miller halfway through the third quarter, 38-24. The Panthers chipped away at the deficit, but the Pioneers still held a double-digit lead through three quarters, 41-30.
The offenses for both sides finally got going in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough for Ohio Dominican to dig themselves out of the hole they created. The teams were even at 17-17 in the fourth. Armstrong had six fourth quarter points to put away the Panthers, 58-47.
Troyer led all scorers with 14 points. Horn (12 points) and Kaufman (10 points) were also in double figures. Kaufman's double-double is her eighth of the year. Kaufman and Armstrong had four assists each to pace the squad.
Malone will celebrate senior day prior to tip-off in their final regular season game inside Osborne Hall on Saturday, March 1 versus Hillsdale College.
