INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Malone University women's basketball team is the number six team in the Midwest Region of NCAA Division II after the regional rankings were recently released.
 
The Pioneers are one of three teams included in the list of the top ten list from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Northwood University (21-5) and Thomas More University (21-5) are ranked third and eighth. The other conferences included in the Midwest Region are the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). 24-1 Grand Valley State University is atop the Midwest Region with Ferris State University behind them in second with a 22-4 mark.
 
Malone enters the final weekend of the regular season with a record of 21-5. The team has won five consecutive games and are in position to host a G-MAC Quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 3. The Pioneers have the fifth-best scoring defense in the region (58.5 points per game allowed) and a big part of that is effective rebounding. Malone is also third in the Midwest Region in rebound margin (9.8) and offensive rebounds per game (14.4).
 
Senior Erin Kaufman is sixth in the region at 16.7 points per game this year. She is looking to build upon her accomplishments from last season as a First Team All-Conference student-athlete in the G-MAC, NCCAA All-Region and All-American selection as well as a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American Honorable Mention honoree.
 
Malone is in action at home against Ohio Dominican University on February 26 at 5:30 P.M. before their final regular season contest at Walsh University on Saturday, February 28 at 1:00 P.M. The later contest will be the 30th annual Mayors' Cup game.