PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – The Malone University women's basketball team traveled to Ursuline College where they dominated in an 82-68 win. The Pioneers are now 17-5 overall and 10-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Arrows fall to 5-18 overall and 2-14 in the G-MAC.
Just under fifteen seconds in,
Anna Krupa drained a triple to kick off the game. Ursuline was able to score a three-point play off an and-one to tie the score at 5-5 but Krupa answered to put Malone back up 7-5. The two teams would continue to fight for the lead going back-and-forth with makes from
Erin Kaufman,
Katie Kaufman, and
Kylee Bruce. At 3:25 on the clock, the Arrows netted a three which made the score 13-13. Shortly after,
Meredith Randulic answered with her own triple to put the Pioneers up the remainder of the game, 16-13.
Malone would start the second quarter on an 8-0 scoring run to put them up 26-15. Points came from
Elena Oliver,
Irene Maroto, and
Brinn Hunt. After a layup from
Kamryn Ruffin with 4:49 left, Ursuline would go on their own scoring run to bring them within five at 30-25. To end the half at 42-25, the Pioneers would again go on a large scoring run highlighted by shots from Oliver, Hunt, Bruce, and
Erin Kaufman.
Krupa started the second half with two made baskets for Malone and at 5:38,
Bridget Barber extended their lead to 20 at 50-30.
Aila Miller scored in the middle stages of the period to make it 54-34. Ursuline ended the third with two made buckets with just under 30 seconds on the clock to end the quarter, but Malone led 57-42 through three.
The final quarter started with free throws from the Arrows but baskets from Krupa, Randulic, and Oliver kept the Pioneers in front. With back-to-back triples from Barber just above the halfway mark in the quarter Malone was up 72-49. At 5:20, Randulic knocked down a jump shot to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at +24. With 1:23 left in the game,
Alyssa Geiser entered the scorebook with a three to help end the game at 82-68. As a team, the Pioneers shot 66.7% (10-for-15) from the field in the fourth quarter.
Malone was led by Krupa who had and three assists and six rebounds (five offensive). She shot 5-for-9 from the field for a season-high 11 points. Barber and Randulic ended the game with 10 points each. Maroto left with four steals and three assists on the game. The Pioneers won in points off turnovers 27-13, fast break points 15-6, and bench points 43-19.
Next, the women's basketball team travels to Kentucky Wesleyan College on Thursday, February 12. Tip-off will be at 5:30 P.M. CST.
