CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – The Malone University women's basketball team was able to pull out a 65-62 win over Thomas More University on Saturday. The Pioneers are now 19-5 overall and 12-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and they clinched a postseason berth with the results from the league with their last win. The Saints are now 19-5 overall and 11-5 in the conference.
Anna Krupa put the first points of the game up on the scoreboard at 8:27 in the first quarter after a made three. Thomas More was able to take the lead for a short period until Krupa nailed another three at 6:48 to make it 7-5. The Saints gained their lead back remainder of the first.
Erin Kaufman made two layups late, but free throws from Thomas More kept them up 20-14 to end the quarter.
A triple came from
Bridget Barber to start the second, 20-17. Buckets from
Irene Maroto and Krupa brought Malone within one at 25-24. Thomas More went on an 8-0 run to stay in front at the five-minute mark in the quarter.
Alyssa Geiser knocked down two triples within one minute and with just 11 seconds on the clock,
Aila Miller hit a three to end the half up 36-33.
Elena Oliver started the third quarter strong with four points in a row to put the Pioneers up one at 37-36. After back-to-back threes from the Saints, they were back in the lead, 44-42. The teams traded the lead, but a third three by Geiser and one from
Kylee Bruce put the Pioneers up 50-49 at the end of the third quarter.
A 7-0 scoring run from the Saints started the final quarter of the game. Maroto hit back-to-back jumpers to shorten the lead and a three from Geiser put the score at 57-56. Foul shots and a triple from Hunt extended the Malone lead. Two layups from Thomas More with 37 seconds left in the game tied it back up. At 12 seconds, Hunt drained a three to secure the 65-62 lead. The Pioneers shot 100% from the foul line in the second half at 6-for-6.
Malone was led by Geiser with 12 points and a 4-for-5 (80.0%) effort from three. Maroto and Hunt each ended the game with nine points. Kaufman led in rebounds with 12 in total. The Pioneers won in points off turnovers 19-17, second chance points 5-4, and bench points 28-19.
Up next, the women host Ashland University for a G-MAC matchup on Thursday, February 19. Tip-off will be at 5:30 P.M.
