CANTON, Ohio - The Malone women's basketball team secured their 13th win of the season over the Thomas More University Saints 58-41. The Pioneers stand tall on the season with a record of 13-4 while the Saints drop to 14-2. In the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Malone improves to 6-3 and Thomas More drops to 6-2. 
 
The win is the 131st in the head coaching career of Selana Ickes. She is now the program's all-time wins leader in just her eighth season. Te previous record was set by Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame member Kathy Haas and had stood since 2001.
 
The Pioneers started the first quarter with an 8-0 run by Elena Oliver to force a timeout by Thomas More within the first three minutes of the game. As the Saints tried to close their gap, Kylee Bruce was able to find a three to make the score 11-5 with 2:53 left in the first. Erin Kaufman and Katie Kaufman both found themselves on the board to extend the lead 17-9. The defense by the Pioneers held Thomas More to 1-for-11 from the field in the opening quarter.
 
Free throws by Irene Maroto, Anna Krupa and Katie Kaufman pushed the lead ro 24-11 with 5:16 on the clock. Opportunities at the free throw line helped Malone overcome a 3-for-15 shooting effort in the second. The halftime score was 31-20.
 
Malone would come out of the locker room on fire with a 6-0 run fueled by a pair of steals by Kamryn Ruffin. 37-20 was the biggest lead of the game for the Pioneers but the Saints were able to cut it to seven at 39-32 with 2:35 remaining in the third. Brinn Hunt sealed the third quarter with a buzzer-beater three, to give Malone a 45-34 lead.
 
The Pioneers continued to push the lead with a 13-7 fourth quarter. Thomas More was held to just two made field goals in the quarter. Erin Kaufman scored or assisted on eight of the fourth quarter points to secure the 58-41 win. 
 
Thomas More was held to 27.7% (13-for-47) from the field and 18.8% (3-for-16) from deep. Malone had 11 steals on 19 Saint turnovers led by Maroto with four. Erin Kaufman (19 points) and Oliver (13 points) were key players in Malone's offense. Oliver also finished the game with 13 rebounds for a double-double.
 
The Pioneers will look to use today's victory as momentum as they travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio Dominican University Panthers in another Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) matchup on January 22. Tip-off is at 5:30 P.M.