CANTON, Ohio – The #21 Malone University Pioneers (18-4, 12-2) returned to the floor on Saturday afternoon for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) matchup against the University of Findlay Oilers (18-6, 11-4) inside Osborne Hall. The Pioneers fought to the very last possession, but came up short, 70-68.
 
From the tip, the game was a very close evenly fought contest with 11 lead changes. The first quarter was back and forth, but Malone closed the quarter with back-to-back baskets. A late three-pointer by Brooklyn Troyer gave the Pioneers a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Troyer opened the second quarter scoring to expand the Malone lead. After that shot however, the Pioneer offense went cold and the Oilers went on a 15-0 run to make it 25-17. With 1:35 left in the second, Aila Miller was able to end Malone's cold streak with a three-point field goal that cut the deficit to five. After baskets on each of their final first half possessions, the Pioneers found themselves trailing 27-22 at the break.
 
The third quarter had a completely different feel as both teams came out of half moving the ball and in a track meet. Kylee Bruce and Erin Kaufman scored five points collectively to trim the deficit to 27-26. Kaufman was able to score a layup in the paint to give the Pioneers a 50-46 lead at quarter break.
 
The Pioneers were able to get their lead as great as eight leading 58-50 in the final period. Findlay continued to chip away and eventually made a jumper that tied the game up at 64 with 2:16 left in the game. The Oilers claimed the lead with 1:30 left on a successful three-point try, but Troyer answered with a layup with 31 seconds to play at 69-68.

Findlay got fouled on their final offensive possession, but split two free throws to give the Pioneers a chance to tie or take the lead. The Oiler defense was all over the home squad in the closing seconds and Malone was unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer sounded.
 
Kaufman led the Pioneers scoring with 20 points and in rebounds with eight. Troyer went a perfect 2-2 from distance as she and Abbey Price both contributed with 10 points. Findlay was 26-of-48 (54.2%) from the field in the win and held the Pioneers to 30-of-66 (45.5%) shooting and just 4-of-14 (28.6%) from deep.
 
The Pioneers will be ready to get back in the winning column as they prepare for the 29th annual Mayors' Cup game. That one tips off at 5:30 P.M. on Tuesday, February 11.