MIDLAND, Mich. - In the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament Championship game, the Malone University women's basketball team was defeated by the regular season champions and host Northwood University by a score of 64-53. The Timberwolves (26-5) have claimed the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament while the Pioneers look for a potential at-large bid into the "Big Dance" at 25-6 overall.
 
Similar to other postseason games, Malone started slow and found themselves down 9-2 in the first two minutes of action. The Pioneers trailed 13-4 a few minutes later before a jumper by Brinn Hunt sparked a 7-0 scoring run. Meredith Randulic and a three by Hunt late in the period cut the gap to as little as two, but Northwood was able to give themselves a slight cushion at 19-14 through the first quarter.
 
Elena Oliver and Erin Kaufman used their size to their advantage for the first six Malone points in the second, but the pace quickened and in the blink of an eye, the Timberwolves jumped out to a 16-point lead, 36-20. Nataley Armstrong found Oliver for back-to-back baskets on the final two offensive possessions of the half and went to the locker room down 36-24.
 
The stoppage of play did not affect the Pioneers, who scored on four straight trips down the floor to begin the third period. The signature Malone defense was suffocating and allowed just two Northwood points in the first seven minutes of play and a jumper by Kaufman at the elbow tied the game at 38-38. The Timberwolves did not allow the Pioneers to take the lead, however when a three on the offensive end propelled the opponents to 12 of the next 13 points. Through three quarters, it was 50-39 Northwood.
 
The lead grew to as many as 15 for Northwood but all hope was not lost as Malone attempted another improbable comeback. A pair of fourth quarter three-point field goals from Hunt eventually cut the gap to seven at 60-53, but with only 1:26 left on the clock by that time, the Timberwolves were able to hold on and grab the 64-53 victory to secure their first G-MAC Tournament title in program history.
 
The Pioneers were limited to 23-of-65 (35.4%) from the field and just 3-of-17 (17.6%) from deep and 4-of-9 (44.4%) from the free throw line. Northwood did not shoot lights out at 35.4% (23-for-65) from the field and 17.6% (3-for-17) from three, but the major difference was at the charity stripe. The Timberwolves finished 15-for-18 (83.3%) on freebies.
 
Malone had nine steals on 17 Northwood turnovers, but miscues by the Pioneers were more costly. The Timberwolves won points off of turnovers 18-12. Northwood won the rebounding battle 41-34, but it was Malone with a 17-9 edge on second chance points.
 
Oliver led the team in scoring with 19 points on 9-of-16 from the field. Kaufman ended the game with 16 points and a team-high eight boards. Hunt was in double figures with 12 points. Armstrong was credited with four of the squad's 13 assists.
 
The 2026 NCAA Division II women's basketball 64-team field will be revealed on Sunday, March 8 at 10:30 P.M. The selection show can be seen live on www.ncaa.com.