OWENSBORO, Ky. - The Malone University women's basketball team pulled away for a 60-52 win in the late stages of a game at Kentucky Wesleyan College on Thursday. The triumph makes Malone 18-5 overall and 11-4 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action. Kentucky Wesleyan falls to 14-8 and 10-6 in league play.
 
Anna Krupa and Erin Kaufman each made successful field goals from beyond the arc, but the Pioneers trailed 9-8 at the first stoppage for a media timeout with 4:43 to go in the first quarter. Those would be the only two makes for the team in the period with a 2-for-9 start from the field. Irene Maroto broke up the drought of nearly seven minutes without a make via a three of her own to keep Malone in striking distance down 15-13 to the Panthers after one.
 
Elena Oliver and Katie Kaufman added their names to the scoring column early in quarter number two, but the Pioneers trailed until Brinn Hunt knocked down a three just before the second quarter media timeout to regain the lead at 24-23. Turnovers prevented Malone from taking the advantage sooner in the frame. Bridget Barber netted a field goal shortly after the timeout and Aila Miller did the same on the following possession to force a timeout by Kentucky Wesleyan.
 
At halftime, the score was tied at 31-31 after both sides buried three-point tries just before triple zeros. It was a much-improved shooting performance in the second quarter for the Pioneers at 7-for-11, but the total for the road squad was just 10-of-22 (45.5%) compared to the Panthers at 12-of-22 (54.5%). A 15-8 rebounding advantage helped limit second chance opportunities for Kentucky Wesleyan.
 
Erin Kaufman was the first Malone student-athlete in double figures with a quality start to the third quarter and six consecutive points. By the media timeout, the lead grew to six at 42-36. Both teams fell into a bit of a dry spell late in the frame, but the Panthers ended the period with four straight points to cut the Pioneer lead to two, 42-40.
 
Barber sank a pair of shots in the first two minutes of the final quarter, but Kentucky Wesleyan had answers offensively on their trips down the floor. Head Coach Selana Ickes used a timeout with 6:40 remaining to try to stop the home momentum of the Panthers. Kentucky Wesleyan was able to get back to even at 52-52, but a three-point make by Hunt propelled Malone back to the lead at the halfway point.
 
That longball would spark a 7-0 run with baskets from Krupa and Erin Kaufman. The Panthers had to use a timeout to try to regroup with two minutes and change to play, but the damage was already done. The defense of the Pioneers was stifling and held Kentucky Wesleyan scoreless over the final six minutes of the 60-52 win.
 
Erin Kaufman was elite on the evening with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-14 from the field as well as seven rebounds. Krupa was a double-digit scorer as well with 10 points while Oliver stuffed the statsheet with eight points, a team-high 11 rebounds and tied with Nataley Armstrong for the team lead with five assists.
 
A 36-19 rebounding edge was the difference for Malone, 13 of those came on the offensive end of the floor. The team passed the ball well for 18 assists on 22 made field goals. The Pioneers were 9-for-19 (47.4%) from deep in the contest.
 
The road trip continues for Malone at Thomas More University on Saturday, February 14 for a Valentine's Day matinee. Action begins at 1:00 P.M. in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.