NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team won the 30th Annual Mayors' Cup game 67-58 against Walsh University. It is the third consecutive Mayors' Cup win for the Malone women's basketball team. The Pioneers finish the regular season with a 23-5 overall record and 16-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Cavaliers are now 16-12 overall and 12-8 in the G-MAC.
 
A jump shot just one minute in by Irene Maroto put the first points on the board followed by a bucket from Walsh. Makes from Elena Oliver and Brinn Hunt would extend the Malone lead 9-2. Layups from Bridget Barber and Erin Kaufman around the halfway mark in the quarter made the score 13-5. At 4:00 the Cavaliers knocked down a three, but Hunt was able to answer with her own at 18-9. Walsh trimmed the deficit, but two made free throws from Nataley Armstrong would help end the first at 22-14. The Pioneers shot 58.33% from the field in the quarter at 7-for-12 and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
 
In the second quarter, Hunt began to heat up from downtown. She made three's at 5:28 and 3:26 marks in the period to put the lead at eight each time. Kamryn Ruffin etched her name into the scorebook towards the end of the second to put them up eight once more. A free throw in the waning seconds made the halftime score 35-28 in favor of the Pioneers.
 
Walsh started the second half with a made triple to attempt a comeback but shots from Kaufman and Maroto kept the Pioneer lead, 39-31. The lead shrunk to as little as four, but just over one minute left in the third, Oliver and Kaufman made baskets to extend the Malone lead to double digits, 53-40. Walsh netted a field goal to end the quarter at 53-42.
 
Malone struggled from the field in the final quarter, but had built themselves enough of a cushion to overcome some shooting woes for the 67-58 win. Their last field goal of the game came with 4:13 left on the clock, but that jumper by Oliver made it a 14-point lead at 63-49.
 
Kaufman was able to secure a double-double on the afternoon with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Hunt ended with 15 points and Anna Krupa grabbed eight rebounds. The Pioneers won in points off turnovers (19-14) and second chance points (16-13).
 
In the win, the Pioneers have clinched the two-seed in the G-MAC Tournament. Malone will host Kentucky Wesleyan College for a G-MAC Tournament Quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 3. Tip-off will be at 5:30 P.M.