CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University STUNT team opened up Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action at the Malone Quad on Saturday. The Pioneers dropped their opening contest to Ashland University (6-2, 3-0 G-MAC) by a score of 36-14, but defeated Ursuline College (0-4, 0-4 G-MAC) 16-4 in their second game of the day and are now 3-1 overall and 1-1 in league action.
 
MALONE vs ASHLAND RECAP:
Malone drew a tie with Ashland in round two of the first quarter, but could not keep pace with the Eagles. After partner stunts, the score was 6-3. Ashland won each of the four pyramids and tosses by a 2-1 score to increase their lead to 14-7 at halftime.
 
In quarter three, the Eagles asserted their dominance with a 4-0 set. The Pioneers were able to score three points on the first round of team routine, but fell behind when Ashland selected more advanced routines in the closing stages. Ultimately, it was an 18-7 difference in scoring in quarter four in the 36-14 loss.
 
Danielle Blankenship, Megan Reifsnyder and Makenna Jurkowski scored all 14 points for the team. Emily Wilhelm, Oneal Everett and Julia Gartner had 12 points apiece. Macy Taylor, Cecilia Herrington, Allison Smith, Eden Marquis and Myla Wolf were credited with 11 points for the squad.
 
MALONE vs URSULINE RECAP:
Malone and Ursuline played an eight-round game and the Pioneers pulled ahead early to help secure the win. Malone won both rounds of partner stunts and pyramids and tosses to lead 4-0 at the break. The Arrows got on the board during jumps and tumbling with a 2-1 score in each of the two rounds. Nonetheless, the Pioneers led 8-2 at that point.
 
In team routine, Ursuline remained close when the teams competed in routine one, but Malone flexed their muscles with routine two to increase the gap. The Pioneers won round one 5-2 and swept the Arrows 3-0 in the final round of the meet to win 16-4.
 
Gartner joined the trio of Blankenship, Reifsnyder and Jurkowski with the most points (15).
 
UP NEXT:
The schedule rolls on for Malone at Walsh University on Wednesday, February 18. The opening bell will be at 6:00 P.M.