HILLSDALE, Mich. - The Malone University women's basketball team was defeated by Hillsdale College on Saturday afternoon 61-54. It is the third consecutive loss for the Pioneers against the Chargers and the first loss in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play for Malone this season. The 19th-ranked Pioneers are now 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference while Hillsdale advances to 6-3 and 2-1.
 
Malone opened the game by winning the first quarter 15-10 despite a 5-for-18 effort from the field. The Pioneers outrebounded their opponents 12-8 in the period and took advantage of a 5-2 difference in turnovers to get in front early and stay there for the opening ten minutes. Senior Erin Kaufman had four points and three rebounds to set the tone and sophomore Alyssa Geiser came off the bench for five first quarter points, including the team's lone three-point make.
 
Sophomore Katie Kaufman capped off a 7-0 run for the visitors to double Hillsdale 20-10 in the first few minutes of quarter number two. However, the Chargers went back on the offensive attack and cut the gap to two at 22-20 at the media timeout with 4:25 to go. Hillsdale claimed their first lead of the game with a made three on the first field goal out of the break. The elder Kaufman broke up a 10-0 run with a made free throw with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter.
 
At the end of the first half, the Chargers led 28-25. Hillsdale had twice as many turnovers in the first half (12-6), but Malone could not take advantage after a poor shooting second quarter as well (3-for-14). The last made field goal of the period came from junior Elena Oliver at the 5:29 mark.
 
Freshman Bridget Barber made a jump shot to put the Pioneers back in front early in the third quarter, but the Chargers responded with an and-one on the next possession to regain the advantage. Sophomore Kylee Bruce found Erin Kaufman for three to get back to even at 36-36 just before a timeout with 3:55 to play in the third. Sophomore Kamryn Ruffin broke a 1-for-14 dry spell from the field in the closing seconds of the quarter, but Hillsdale led 44-39 after 30 minutes.
 
A three from Barber kept Malone in striking distance, but foul trouble allowed the Chargers to get to the free throw line with consistency in the fourth quarter. Hillsdale called for a timeout with 4:47 remaining and a 51-45 lead. The Chargers took their largest lead of the contest at 55-46, but a three by senior Nataley Armstrong fell to make it a two-possession game once more with one minute and change on the clock.
 
That make from distance sparked something in the Pioneers because they came out of a timeout and forced a turnover in the back court and then senior Brinn Hunt buried one from long range as well to trim the deficit to three at 55-52. Hillsdale drove the lane and scored on a layup with 30 seconds to go and a stop on the other end for the Chargers helped to secure the 61-54 win.
 
Malone could not get anything to fall throughout the game. It was the worst overall shooting percentage in a game this year at 27.5% (19-of-69) and the second-worst three-point mark (6-of-32) and free throw shooting (10-of-19) performances of 2025-26. The Pioneers forced 17 turnovers and had nine themselves, but were outscored 14-12 on opponent's miscues. Hillsdale led in fastbreak points 20-6.
 
Erin Kaufman had a double-double with 14 points, ten rebounds and three blocks to pace the squad. She was the lone Malone student-athlete in double figures but Armstrong had nine points and was credited with three steals.
 
The road trip continues on Monday, January 5 at Northwood University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 P.M.