ELKINS, W.Va. - The Malone University women's basketball team secured its first win of the season on the road over Davis & Elkins College, 74-49. The Pioneers move to 1-0 to start the year while the Senators fall to 0-2.
The first period started off quickly for Malone as
Kylee Bruce and
Bridget Barber recorded back-to-back threes at 7:07.
Elena Oliver added her name to the scoreboard with a layup and successful free throw to give the Pioneers a 9-0 lead with 4:27 left in the quarter. Davis & Elkins were looking for an answer but
Finley Weaver, Oliver, and
Ava Anderson increased the Pioneers lead 15-2 during the last three minutes. Malone went into the second period with a 15-6 lead.
In the second quarter,
Tatum Lusher continued the Pioneer's momentum with a jumper and layup for a 19-9 lead at 5:58. The Senators tried to find some rhythm but couldn't contain
Meredith Randulic as she stepped back for a successful three at 3:51. Malone kept adding points to the board as Bruce connected with
Irene Maroto for a three-pointer at 1:44 and with
Abbey Price making a free throw with 34 seconds left in the half. The Pioneers went into halftime with a comfortable 26-19 lead.
Malone carried its offensive pressure into the third quarter with a layup by Oliver during the first 15 seconds of the period. Bruce added to the total with two free throws at 7:56 followed by a jumper by Oliver for a 10-point advantage with 7:37 left in the quarter. Price extended the Pioneers lead 36-24 with a successful layup at 6:25. Malone was staying hot as Barber extended their lead 46-28 with a fast-break three. Oliver had two successful three throws with 0:06 left in the period to give Malone a 51-34 lead.
The fourth quarter was all Pioneers as Price gave the team a 16-point lead at 7:36. Malone extended its lead by 19 points with a clean three by Barber at 6:20, and then a layup by Maroto at 5:33. As the fourth period continued, Bruce gave the Pioneers its largest lead of the night (26pts) off of two free throws at 2:09.
Bree McCabe scored the final basket of the game to seal Malone's victory 74-49 over Davis & Elkins.
Barber led the Pioneers in points with 15 on the night followed by Oliver (13), Price (12), and Bruce (11). Maroto was the top passer for Malone as she recorded four assists in the game. Barber, Oliver, and Lusher recorded six rebounds each for the Pioneers.
Head Coach
Jake Shoup recorded his first win as the women's head basketball coach and will look to carry the momentum with the team as they travel to Clarion, Pennsylvania on November 14 for the Clarion Tip-Off Tournament. They will face the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for another non-conference match-up. Tip-off is at 5:00 P.M.
