MIDLAND, Mich. - The Malone University women's basketball team outlasted the University of Findlay Oilers in a heated battle on Friday evening to advance to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament Championship Final Round. Malone defeated Findlay by a score of 57-56 thanks to a pair of free throws by senior Brinn Hunt with five seconds remaining on the clock.
 
The postseason continues for the Pioneers at 25-5 while the season for the Oilers comes to a close at 16-13. The game was also significant for senior Erin Kaufman. She secured her 1,000th career rebound in the team's postseason victory and is only the third student-athlete in the history of Malone women's basketball to hit that mark.
 
Scores on four straight trips down the floor helped to give the Pioneers a 12-6 advantage. Three-point plays by Kaufman and senior Anna Krupa helped to give Malone positive momentum. The Oilers were able to battle back and take the lead 15-14 just before the end of the first quarter. Findlay was 7-of-14 from the field in the opening ten minutes.
 
Sophomore Katie Kaufman and Hunt each netted field goals to regain the lead early in the second quarter and a three by redshirt sophomore Meredith Randulic extended the gap to 23-19 just before the halfway point. That try with 5:25 to go in the quarter would be the last points of the period for the Pioneers. They entered the locker room trailing 25-23.
 
Despite the cold ending to the first half, Malone was scorching hot to begin the second half. An 8-0 run for the Pioneers was highlighted by field goals from juniors Elena Oliver and Irene Maroto. Erin Kaufman also had four straight free throw makes during the run. Three-point makes from sophomore Kylee Bruce and Hunt allowed Malone to keep their foot on the gas pedal, but a late rally by Findlay that featured a buzzer-beater halfcourt heave cut the Malone lead to 41-40 through three quarters.
 
The Oilers threw the first punch in the fourth quarter and scored the first five points. The answer for the Pioneers came from Erin Kaufman with a layup and a fastbreak three by Hunt for a lead change, 46-45. A 12-1 scoring run featuring mostly free throws took Malone from down four to up seven at 53-46 with 2:28 remaining.
 
A jumper, three and then intentional foul gave Findlay a chance to draw even or take the lead, but the Oilers could only get back to a one-point game at 53-52. The Pioneers looked inside to their First Team All-Conference honoree Kaufman for two to increase the gap with 51 seconds on the clock. Findlay got a layup and a stop defensively to put themselves in position for the final shot. After a timeout, the Oilers took Malone by surprise and went for a quick two to take the advantage 56-55 and defer the final opportunity to the Pioneers.
 
Malone was able to make the most of a defensive mistake by Findlay when they fouled Hunt on the perimeter and not in a position to score. The Pioneers were in the bonus and Hunt sank both freebies to secure the 57-56 win. The Oilers looked for magic from halfcourt one more time, but to no avail after a traveling violation.
 
There were nine lead changes in the contest and five times the score was tied. Shooting numbers were nearly even, with Findlay slightly ahead at 40.7% (22-of-54) to Malone's 37.0% (20-of-54), however the difference came at the charity stripe. The Pioneers were 12-for-14 while the Oilers sat at 7-for-11. Findlay held a major rebounding advantage (40-24) as well as second chance points (13-2) and points in the paint (28-16). Malone was able to limit their turnovers to just 11 while the Oilers were saddled with 20 in total.
 
Hunt (17 points) and Erin Kaufman (15 points) were the team leaders from the field. Kaufman tied for had the outright lead in rebounds (7), assists (2), blocks (2) and steals (2).
 
In the G-MAC Championship Final, the Pioneers will look to defeat the host Northwood University Timberwolves in a battle of two teams who are receiving votes in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coaches Poll. Tip-off of the Championship Final will be at 3:00 P.M.