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Malone Opens Season With Overtime Victory At Ursuline

The Malone University women’s basketball team, led by seventh-year head coach Lori Wynn, began its 2009-2010 season on Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 77-73 overtime victory at Ursuline College.  The Pioneers held the Arrows to just 35.2% shooting (25 of 71) from the field and enjoyed a substantial 56-36 advantage in total rebounds.  Malone used a late 6-0 scoring run to take a 70-67 lead with under a minute to play in regulation but Ursuline then drained a three-pointer to send the contest to overtime deadlocked at 70-70.  Neither team scored from the field in the extra period as the Pioneers edged the Arrows 7-3 at the free throw line to record the four-point triumph. 

The contest remained close throughout as neither team enjoyed more than a six-point advantage.  Malone knocked down 40.3% (25 of 62) of its field-goal tries over the course of the game, including seven of 17 (41.2%) attempts from beyond the three-point line.  The Pioneers turned the ball over 26 times but also took 35 free throws, making 20 (57.1%).

Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) tossed in a team-high 18 points to go with nine rebounds.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) finished three assists shy of a triple-double as she tallied 15 points, 12 boards and seven assists.  Junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) added 13 points off the bench while sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) registered eight points with 11 rebounds and four steals.

Malone will return to action on Tuesday when it takes on local rival Walsh University in the 14th annual Mayors’ Cup game.   The all-time series between the two teams is knotted at 31-31 as Walsh has won the last four meetings.  The Cavaliers have also claimed two straight Mayors’ Cup contests although the Pioneers still hold a 7-6 lead in the Mayors’ Cup series.  Tuesday’s contest will be held at Walsh with tip-off slated for 8:00 p.m.

 

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Walsh Pulls Away From Pioneers For 86-54 Mayors’ Cup Victory

The Malone University women’s basketball team suffered an 86-54 defeat on Tuesday evening in the 14th annual Mayors’ Cup game at Walsh University.  The host Cavaliers held a commanding 45-19 lead at intermission and then stretched their advantage to as many as 42 points in the second half as they pulled away to claim the Mayors’ Cup Trophy for the third consecutive year while evening up the all-time Mayors’ Cup series at seven wins apiece.  Walsh’s overall record improved to 3-0 on the season with the non-conference victory while the Pioneers dropped to 1-1.

The Cavaliers clamped down on the defensive end throughout the rivalry game, forcing 31 Malone turnovers while limiting the Pioneers to just 36.4% (20 of 55) shooting from the field, including 28.6% (six of 21) accuracy from three-point range.  Malone held a 34-30 advantage in total rebounds but made only eight of 16 (50%) free throws.  Walsh, meanwhile, knocked down nearly 60% (34 of 58) of its field-goal attempts, hit two of nine (22.2%) three-pointers, and connected on 16 of 17 (94.1%) tries from the charity stripe.

Guards Ashley Speicher (pictured to the left; Jr., Plymouth H.S.), Amy Kittle (Jr., Buckeye Trail H.S.), Tyler Darland (So., Lakota East H.S.), and Cindy Netti (Fr., Lake H.S.) all posted seven points apiece for Malone.  In addition to their offensive output, Kittle also grabbed six rebounds and Netti snagged three steals.

Walsh had four players score in double figures, led by center Cara Bedard with 19 points.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back over the weekend when they travel to Cedarville, Ohio to compete in two games at the Cedarville University Classic.  On Friday, Malone will take on the host Yellow Jackets (0-0 overall), who were ranked 11th in the NAIA Division II Preseason National Poll, at 7:30 p.m.  The Pioneers will then wrap up the weekend by facing Wilberforce University (1-2 overall) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Notes:  Following Tuesday’s game, Walsh now holds a 32-31 lead in the all-time series with Malone…The third consecutive Mayors’ Cup win allowed the Cavaliers to “retire” the Cup for the first time in the history of the series…Malone has twice retired the Cup, having won three straight Mayors’ Cup games from 1999-2001 and 2005-2007.

 

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Malone Opens Play At Cedarville Classic With 103-50 Loss To Host Yellow Jackets

The Malone University women’s basketball team suffered a 103-50 non-conference defeat at the Cedarville University Classic on Friday evening as the host Yellow Jackets, who were ranked 11th in the NAIA Division II Preseason Women’s Basketball Poll, pulled out to 20-5 lead and never looked back en route to the convincing victory.  In its season opener, Cedarville shot over 60% from the field, held a 42-20 advantage in total rebounds, and forced 28 Pioneer turnovers.

Malone, now 1-2 on the season, shot 41.3% (19 of 46) on the evening, hit four of 14 (28.6%) three-pointers while knocking down eight of 15 (53.3%) attempts from the foul line.  Cedarville countered by connecting on 44 of 73 (60.3%) shots from the field, five of 16 (31.3%) three-point attempts and 10 of 12 free throws (83.3%). 

Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with 12 points, three assists and one block.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) and junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) each followed with eight points and three rebounds apiece while sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) and freshman guard Cindy Netti (Lake H.S.) each finished with seven points.

Cedarville forward Lydia Miller tossed in 22 points to pace five Yellow Jackets in double figures. 

Malone continues play at the Cedarville Classic on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Wilberforce University (1-3 overall).

 

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Pioneers Conclude Play At Cedarville Classic With 73-63 Victory Over Wilberforce

The Malone University women’s basketball team wrapped up play at the Cedarville University Classic on Saturday afternoon with a 73-63 non-conference win against Wilberforce University.  The Pioneers closed out the first half on a 12-4 run to take a 45-35 lead into the locker room at intermission.  Malone then stretched its advantage to as many as 19 points in the second frame as it pulled away for the victory.  The Pioneers’ overall record improved to 2-2 with the 10-point triumph while the Bulldogs fell to 1-4.

Wilberforce jumped out to a 7-6 lead in the opening moments of Saturday’s neutral contest before Pioneer guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) tossed in six unanswered points to put her squad on top 12-7.  Malone would then not relinquish its lead over the remainder of the contest as it went on to shoot a season-high 45.1% (23 of 51) from the field while allowing Wilberforce to convert on just 25 of 74 (33.8%) field-goal attempts, including only three of 20 (15.0%) three-point tries. 

Kittle led all scorers with 20 points (6-16 FG, 0-3 3PT FG, 8-9 FT) to go with a team-high seven rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) followed with 18 points and six rebounds while junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) and sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) each posted eight points apiece.

Center Deidra Brown led the way for the Bulldogs with 17 points while forward Mohogany Williams came off the bench to post a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Following its 1-1 weekend at the Cedarville Classic, Malone will return to action on Tuesday as it hosts its home opener at 7:00 p.m. against NCAA Division II Ohio Valley University (0-0 overall).

 

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Malone Unable To Overcome First-Half Shooting Struggles In 65-57 Loss To Ohio Valley

The Malone University women’s basketball team suffered a 65-57 non-conference loss in its home opener against NCAA Division II Ohio Valley University on Tuesday evening.  The Pioneers never led in the contest as the hosts trailed 33-22 at halftime after connecting on just four of their 24 (16.7%) shots from the field over the first 20 minutes of play.  Malone’s offense got on track in the second period as the squad used a late 9-0 scoring run to trim a 15-point Fighting Scot advantage to just 56-50 with 3:39 remaining in the contest.  However, the Pioneers were unable to get any closer over the remainder of the game as OVU brought the Malone scoring spurt to an end with a lay-up and then converted on five of six free throws down the stretch to cement the eight-point victory.  The loss dropped the Pioneers’ overall record to 2-3 on the season while Ohio Valley moved to 1-0 with the win in its season opener.

Malone knocked down 10 of 27 (37.0%) field-goal attempts in the second half to end the game with an overall shooting percentage of 27.5% (14 of 51).  Despite their struggles from the field, the Pioneers were red hot from the foul line as the squad sank 27 of 30 (90.0%) free throws.  Ohio Valley converted on 38.1% (24 of 63) of its field-goal tries over the course of the evening, including seven of 23 (30.4%) three-pointers.  Like Malone, the Fighting Scots also took advantage of their trips to charity stripe, converting on 10 of 13 (76.9%) foul shots.  OVU enjoyed a 42-36 advantage in total rebounds and forced 21 Malone turnovers.

Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with a season-high 21 points (6-10 FG, 1-1 3PT FG, 8-10 FT) and 12 rebounds.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) and sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) each followed with 14 points apiece with Anatra also contributing six rebounds and four steals.

Center Kendra Benedict paced Ohio Valley with 27 points (11-17 FG, 5-7 FT), 12 boards, three steals and two blocks.

Malone will look to bounce back on Saturday at home as it faces off with former American Mideast Conference member Ohio Dominican University at 2:00 p.m.  The game will be broadcast live on WNPQ 95.9 FM and on the internet at www.thelight959.com.  Live statistics will also be available on the internet at http://multimedia.malone.edu/athletics/basketball/womens/xlive.htm.

 

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Late Pioneer Rally Not Quite Enough As Ohio Dominican Edges Malone 58-55

The Malone University women’s basketball team endured a hard-fought 58-55 loss at home to former American Mideast Conference member Ohio Dominican University on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Panthers hung on for the victory after withstanding a 14-2 Pioneer scoring run in the final minutes.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 2-4 overall while the Panthers, who are currently in transition to becoming members of NCAA Division II, improved to 2-2 on the year.

Ohio Dominican held a 52-41 lead with five minutes to play in Saturday’s contest before Malone stormed back with its offensive surge, pulling ahead 55-54 with 49 seconds remaining on a pair of free throws by junior point guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.).  ODU guard Tenia Scarver answered with a three-pointer on the Panthers’ next trip down the floor, putting the visitors back in front 57-55.  Following a missed Pioneer shot attempt, Ohio Dominican split a pair of free throws to push its advantage to 58-55 with eight ticks remaining on the clock.  Malone quickly headed down the court looking for a game-tying three-pointer but the Pioneers turned the ball over before they could attempt a shot, allowing ODU to escape with the three-point triumph.

Malone held a 29-26 lead at halftime but shot just 21.2% (7 of 33) from the field in the second stanza, finishing the game with an overall shooting percentage of 29.0% (18 of 62).  The Pioneers hit five of 18 (27.8%) three pointers and 14 of 20 free throws (70.0%) in the contest while forcing 16 ODU turnovers.  Ohio Dominican held a 42-39 advantage in total rebounds, made 12 of 16 (75.0%) free throws, and shot 36.5% (19 of 52) from the floor, including 29.6% (8 of 27) from beyond the three-point arc.

In addition to tossing in a game-high 18 points, the 5’5” Wilson also grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to go with two assists and two steals.  Junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) followed with 12 points and five rebounds.  Junior guards Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) and Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) tossed in 10 and eight points, respectively, while sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) snagged three steals and dished out four assists.

Scarver came off the bench to lead ODU with 15 points.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday night as they travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to open American Mideast Conference play with a 7:00 p.m. contest against Carlow University (Carlow does not have a regulation-sized gym on its campus so Tuesday's game will be played at nearby Oakland Catholic High School).

 

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Malone Opens Conference Play With 62-60 Loss at Carlow

The Malone University women’s basketball team dropped its American Mideast Conference opener at Carlow (PA) University on Tuesday evening as the host Celtics fought back from a 10-point halftime deficit to record a narrow 62-60 victory.  The Pioneers held a 33-23 advantage at intermission but then shot just 27.6% (eight of 29) from the floor in the second half.   The loss dropped Malone’s record to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the AMC while Carlow improved to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

The Celtics slowly chipped away at the Pioneers’ advantage throughout the final stanza, taking their first lead of the half on a three-pointer with under two minutes remaining.   Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) answered on Malone’s next trip down the floor, nailing a three to put the visitors back on top at 58-56. The Pioneers would come up empty on their next two possessions, however, and Carlow tossed in a pair of jumpers and two free throws to take a 62-58 lead with 10 ticks showing on the clock.  Kittle added a basket in the final moments but it was not enough as Carlow held on for the two-point triumph.

On the evening, Malone knocked down 20 of 56 (35.7%) shots from field, four of 17 (23.5%) three-point attempts and 16 of 24 (66.7%) free throws.  After making only nine of 32 (28.1%) shots through the first 20 minutes, Carlow sank nearly half of its tries (12 of 25) in the second stanza to finish the game with an overall shooting percentage of 36.8% (21 of 57).  The Celtics held a slim 37-36 advantage in total rebounds, made five of 11 (45.5%) three pointers and 15 of their 19 (78.9%) free throws.

Kittle ended the night with a career-high 26 points (10-24 FG, 1-7 3PT FG, 5-6 FT).  Sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) added 11 points and three steals.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) scored seven points and grabbed four steals while junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go with four assists.

The Pioneers will now be idle until next Thursday (December 3rd) when they travel to Notre Dame College (2-1 overall) in South Euclid, Ohio for a 6:00 p.m. AMC contest against the Falcons.

 

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Strong Second Half Vaults Notre Dame Past Pioneers

The Malone University women’s basketball team suffered a 94-78 American Mideast Conference defeat on the road Thursday evening to Notre Dame (OH) College as the host Falcons connected on two-thirds of their second-half field goal attempts and outscored the Pioneers 52-38 in the final frame to pull away for the victory.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in the AMC while Notre Dame improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

The Pioneers trimmed a seven-point Falcon lead to just 42-40 at halftime after scoring the final five points of the opening frame.  Notre Dame never relinquished its advantage over the final 20 minutes, however, as the hosts used a 22-2 scoring run midway through the second half to take a commanding 80-52 advantage with 6:26 remaining.  Malone cut the 28-point margin down to 15 points with a little over a minute to play but was unable to completely close the sizable gap. 

The Pioneers shot a season-high 48.4% (31 of 64) from the field but were unable to slow down the hot-shooting Falcons who drained 55.1% (38 of 69) of their field-goal attempts over the course of the evening including seven of 12 (58.3%) three-pointers.  Notre Dame held a 39-33 advantage in total rebounds and also forced 23 Malone turnovers.

Junior guards Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) and Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) each tossed in 16 points to lead the way for the Pioneers.  In addition to her point total, Wilson also contributed eight rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) posted 12 points and three steals while freshman guard Cindi Netti (Lake H.S.) came off the bench to score 10.

Center Yvette Hunter paced the Falcons with 22 points and 10 boards.

Malone returns to AMC action on Saturday as it hosts NAIA Division II #10 Cedarville University in a 2:00 p.m. contest.  The game will be broadcast live on WNPQ 95.9 FM and on the internet at www.thelight959.com.  Live statistics will be available on the internet at http://multimedia.malone.edu/athletics/basketball/womens/xlive.htm and free streaming video of the game will also be provided through TEAMLINE at http://www.teamline.cc/teampage?teamcode=4471.

 

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NAIA No. 10 Cedarville Pulls Away Early To Top Malone 92-56

The Malone University women’s basketball team endured a 92-56 American Mideast Conference loss at home to Cedarville University on Saturday afternoon as the Yellow Jackets shot over 54% (19 of 35) from the field in the opening stanza to take a commanding 44-24 halftime advantage.  The Pioneers scored the opening basket of the second frame to cut the deficit to 18 points but then got no closer over the remainder of the game.  Malone’s record fell to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in the AMC with the tough loss while Cedarville, ranked 10th in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll, improved to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

The Yellow Jackets forced 26 Pioneer turnovers on the afternoon, held a 38-33 advantage in total rebounds, tallied eight blocks and shot over 53% (35 of 65) from the field, including 50% (10 of 20) from beyond the three-point arc.  Malone countered by hitting 18 of 54 (33.3%) field-goal attempts, six of 16 (37.5%) threes, and 14 of 18 (77.8%) free throws.

Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) tossed in 20 points (8-16 FG, 2-7 3PT FG, 2-2 FT) to pace the Pioneers.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) followed with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three steals while junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) added 11.

Forward Aubrey Siemon and guard Alison Lemon each notched 21 points apiece to lead Cedarville.

Malone will look to bounce back on Friday when it travels to southern Ohio to face the University of Rio Grande (6-4 overall) in a 6:00 p.m. non-conference contest.      

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First-Half Scoring Drought, Turnovers Plague Pioneers In 75-40 Loss At Rio Grande

The Malone University women’s basketball team endured a 75-40 defeat at the University of Rio Grande on Friday evening as the Red Storm took command of the contest in the early going, outscoring the Pioneers 43-14 over the first 20 minutes of play.  Malone committed 21 first-half turnovers while shooting just 22.7% (5 of 22) from the field in the opening stanza.  The Pioneers held a 5-2 lead in the opening moments but then were held scoreless over the next eight minutes as Rio Grande went on a 23-0 scoring run to build a commanding 25-5 advantage.  Malone was able to cut the deficit to 15 later in the first half but then could get no closer over the remainder of the contest as the hosts pulled away for the victory.  The non-conference loss dropped the Pioneers’ record to 2-8 overall while the Red Storm improved to 7-4 on the season.

Malone connected on 10 of 28 (35.7%) second-half shot attempts to the end the night with an overall shooting percentage of 30.0% (15 of 50).  The Pioneers hit six of 19 (31.6%) three-point attempts and four of nine (44.4%) free throws.  Rio Grande held a 47-31 advantage in total rebounds while connecting on 41.5% (27 of 65) of its shots from the floor, 40.0% (eight of 20) of its three-pointers and 68.4% (13 of 19) of its foul shots.  Each team struggled to take care of the basketball as Malone committed a season-high 35 turnovers while the Red Storm notched 26 miscues.

Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) paced the Pioneers with 10 points.  Junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) followed with eight points while junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) registered six points, four steals and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Guard Candace Black came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points for Rio Grande.

Malone will now be idle until next Friday and Saturday when the squad travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan to participate in the Concordia University Classic.  The Pioneers will take on Grace (IN) College (3-10 overall) at 8:00 p.m. on Friday before facing the host Cardinals (5-5 overall) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.

 

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Big Second Half Pushes Grace Past Malone At Concordia Classic

The Malone University women’s basketball team opened play at the Concordia (MI) University Classic on Friday evening with a 72-53 loss to Grace (IN) College.  The Pioneers held a 24-21 lead at intermission after limiting the Lancers to just 20.0% (8 of 40) shooting in the first half.  However, Grace stormed back in the second stanza, outscoring the Pioneers 51-29 over the final 20 minutes to record the 19-point triumph.  Malone’s record dropped to 2-9 overall with the tough defeat while Grace improved to 4-11.

After its first-half shooting struggles, the Lancers got hot in the second frame as they knocked down 19 of 35 (54.3%) shots from the field in the period to end the game with an overall shooting percentage of 36.0% (27 of 75).  Grace hit just two of 12 (16.7%) three-pointers over the course of the evening but took advantage of its trips to the foul line, hitting 16 of 19 (84.2%) free throws.  The Pioneers countered by connecting on 33.3% (21 of 63) of their field goal attempts, 23.1% (three of 13) of their three-pointers and 66.7% (eight of 12) of their foul shots.  The Lancers held a 51-43 advantage in total rebounds and also forced 24 Malone turnovers.

Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) followed with nine points and three assists.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) totaled eight points and three assists while junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) also posted eight points with six rebounds.

Forward Kayla Skaggs paced Grace with 13 points while guard Hannah Lengel notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

Malone will continue play at the Concordia Classic on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. contest against the host Cardinals.

 

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Late Rally Not Enough As Pioneers Conclude Play At Concordia Classic With 86-78 Loss To Host Cardinals

The Malone University women’s basketball team wrapped up its trip to the Concordia University Christmas Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Saturday afternoon with an 86-78 loss to the host Cardinals.  The Pioneers had held a 39-37 advantage at intermission but Concordia then outscored Malone 23-7 over the first eight minutes of the second half to grab a 60-49 lead.  The hosts’ advantage then grew to as many as 14 later in the frame before the Pioneers fought back with a 13-4 scoring run that trimmed the deficit to 76-71 with three minutes to play.  However, Malone was unable to get any closer over the remainder of the game as the Cardinals went on to record the eight-point triumph.  The Pioneers’ record fell to 2-10 overall with the defeat while Concordia improved to 8-5.

Both teams shot the ball well on Saturday as Malone knocked down a season-high 52.1% (25 of 48) of its attempts from the field while the Cardinals connected on 51.8% (29 of 56) of their field-goal tries.  The Pioneers made five of 13 (38.5%) three-pointers and 23 of 36 (63.9%) free throws.  Concordia countered by sinking eight of 17 (47.1%) threes and 20 of 31 (64.5%) foul shots.  Malone held a slim 33-31 advantage in total rebounds but also committed 21 turnovers that led to 31 Cardinal points.

Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) paced the Pioneers with a career-high 25 points (8-12 FG, 9-12 FT).  Wilson also pulled down seven rebounds, snagged five steals and dished out three assists.  Junior guards Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) and Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) each tossed in 18 points apiece with Speicher also contributing four assists and Kittle grabbing six rebounds. 

Forward Kelly Cieslak paced four Cardinal players in double figures with 30 points.

Malone will now be idle until December 29th and 30th when it co-hosts the Canton Classic with Walsh University.  On Tuesday, the Pioneers will play a neutral contest against Marygrove (MI) College (5-5 overall) at 5:00 p.m. in Walsh’s Alumni Arena.  Then on Wednesday, Malone will host the University of Rio Grande (7-6 overall) in Osborne Hall at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

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Malone Edges Marygrove 71-66 On Day One Of Canton Classic

The Malone University women’s basketball team opened the Canton Classic at Walsh University’s Alumni Arena on Tuesday evening with a 71-66 win against Marygrove (MI) College.  The Pioneers had trailed by a 33-27 margin at halftime but then limited the Mustangs to just 24.4% (11 of 45) shooting from the floor in the second stanza to fight back for the five-point triumph.  The victory snapped an eight-game Malone losing streak, improving the Pioneers’ overall record to 3-10.  Marygrove fell to 5-6 on the year with the defeat.

Malone committed 30 turnovers in the contest but also held a commanding 65-34 advantage in total rebounds.  The Pioneers used an 8-0 scoring run midway through the second half to grab a 44-39 lead.  Marygrove answered back minutes later, though, putting together an 8-0 run of its own to knot the game at 53-53 with three and a half minutes to play.  The Mustangs were unable to regain the lead, however, as Malone quickly pushed its advantage back to eight at 64-56 by outscoring Marygrove 11-3 over the next 90 seconds.  The Mustangs trimmed the deficit to three points three separate times during the final minute, but the Pioneers were able to hang on for the win by converting on seven of their last eight free throws.

On the evening, Malone connected on 22 of 58 (37.9%) shots from the field, one of 12 (8.3%) three-pointers and 26 of 36 (72.2%) foul shots.  Marygrove countered by knocking down 23 of 78 (29.5%) field goals, six of 18 (33.3%) three-pointers and 14 of 19 (73.7%) free throws. 

Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) and junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) both tossed in 17 points to lead the way for Malone.  In addition to their offensive output, the duo also contributed on the boards as Wilson grabbed 13 rebounds and Schloz snagged 10.  Sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) added 14 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and four assists while junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) posted 12 points and six rebounds.

Guard Maria Martin registered 15 points to pace Marygrove.

In Tuesday’s other Canton Classic contest, the University of Rio Grande topped Walsh University by a final score of 78-74.  The Canton Classic moves to Malone’s Osborne Hall on Wednesday evening and will feature two more contests.  Walsh and Marygrove will square off at 5:00 p.m. followed by Malone vs. Rio Grande at 7:00 p.m.

 

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Rio Grande Holds Off Second-Half Pioneer Rally On Day Two Of Canton Classic

The Malone University women’s basketball team concluded Canton Classic play on Wednesday evening at home with a hard-fought 73-59 loss to the University of Rio Grande.  The Pioneers used a 12-0 run midway through the final stanza to claw back from a 40-27 halftime deficit, tying the game at 48-48 with 12 minutes remaining.  Malone was unable to take the lead, though, as the Red Storm immediately responded to the Pioneer surge, outscoring the hosts 17-5 over the next seven minutes to put the contest out of reach.  Malone’s record fell to 3-11 with the defeat while Rio Grande improved to 9-6.

The Pioneers connected on 18 of 53 (34.0%) field goal attempts, four of 16 (25.0%) three pointers, and 19 of 24 (79.2%) free throws over the course of the evening.  The Red Storm, meanwhile, shot 40.0% (28 of 70) from the floor, 24.1% (seven of 29) from beyond the three-point arc, and 71.4% (10 of 14) from the charity stripe.  Rio held a slim 41-40 advantage in total rebounds and also forced 21 Malone turnovers.

Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) paced the Pioneers with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three steals.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) followed with 16 points, seven boards and three assists while junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) chipped in with eight points.

Guard Leah Kendro led the way for the Red Storm with 18 points.

In Wednesday’s other Canton Classic matchup, Walsh University downed Marygrove (MI) College by a final score of 86-52.

Malone will now be idle until next Tuesday (January 5th) when the squad returns to American Mideast Conference play with a 6:00 p.m. contest at Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College (7-5 overall, 3-2 AMC).

 

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Malone Rallies In Second Half For 65-59 Conference Victory At Roberts Wesleyan

The Malone University women’s basketball team picked up its first American Mideast Conference win of the year on Tuesday evening at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York as the Pioneers fought back from a 31-26 halftime deficit, outscoring the Raiders 39-28 during the final period to record a 65-59 victory.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (pictured left; Buckeye Trail H.S.) helped to fuel the Malone rally by scoring 16 of her game-high 22 points (9-17 FG, 2-4 3PT FG, 2-2 FT) in the final stanza.  The win improved the Pioneers’ record to 4-11 overall and 1-3 in the AMC while Roberts Wesleyan dropped to 7-6 overall and 3-3 in the conference.   

Tuesday’s game was deadlocked at 51-51 with 7:39 to play before consecutive Malone three-pointers by Kittle and sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St Peter’s H.S.) put the Pioneers in front 57-51 with less than five minutes on the clock.  The Raiders answered with a three-pointer of their own moments later to trim the deficit to 57-54.  However, Roberts Wesleyan was unable to get any closer over the remainder of the contest as Malone hit eight of its next 11 free throws to secure the six-point triumph.

On the evening, the Pioneers held a substantial 51-32 advantage in total rebounds and connected on 22 of 59 (37.3%) shots from the field, six of 15 (40.0%) three-pointers and 15 of 22 (68.2%) foul shots.  The Raiders countered by knocking down 23 of 62 (37.1%) field-goal tries, five of 18 (27.8%) attempts from beyond the three-point arc, and eight of 15 (53.3%) free throws.

Kittle was joined by three other Pioneers in double figures.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) posted 16 points, Anatra tallied 13 points and nine rebounds while junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) registered her second double-double of the year with 10 points and 12 boards. 

Forward Sarah Child paced Roberts Wesleyan with 16 points and four blocked shots.

Malone will travel back to upstate New York over the weekend for two more AMC contests.  On Friday, the Pioneers will be in Amherst, New York to face off with Daemen College (6-8 overall, 2-2 AMC) at 5:30 p.m.  Then on Saturday, the squad will take on Houghton College (7-4 overall, 2-2 AMC) at 4:00 p.m. in Houghton, New York.     

 

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Pioneers Drop Conference Games To Daemen, Houghton

The Malone University women’s basketball team lost a pair of American Mideast Conference games in the state of New York over the weekend as the squad fell 79-53 to Daemen College in Amherst, New York on Friday evening and 73-53 to Houghton College in Houghton, New York on Saturday afternoon.  With the pair of defeats, the Pioneers’ record fell to 4-13 overall and 1-5 in the AMC.

In Friday’s contest at Daemen, Malone trailed 33-20 at halftime after shooting just 23.5% (eight of 34) from the field over the first 20 minutes of action.  The Pioneers tallied the first six points of the second frame to pull within seven at 33-26.  Malone got no closer over the remainder of the game, though, as the Wildcats immediately responded, taking command of the contest with a 12-0 scoring run that put them on top 45-26.

Damen held a 49-37 advantage in total rebounds over the course of the evening while forcing 24 Pioneer turnovers and snagging 16 steals.  The Wildcats also hit 31 of 70 (44.3%) field-goal tries, five of 21 (23.8%) three-pointers, and 12 of 19 (63.2%) foul shots.  Malone ended the night having made 32.3% (20 of 62) of its shots from the floor, 23.5% (four of 17) of its tries from beyond the three-point arc and 69.2% (nine of 13) of its free throws.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) paced the Pioneers with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) followed with 15 points, four rebounds and three steals while sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s) posted 10 points and five rebounds.  Forward Sarah Soroka poured in 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the way for Daemen.

In Saturday’s game at Houghton, Malone held a 24-16 advantage with six minutes to play in the first half before the Highlanders stormed back, outscoring the Pioneers 12-2 over the remainder of the period to take a 28-26 lead into the locker room at intermission.  A basket by Wilson tied the game at 28-28 in the opening moments of the second half before the Highlanders rattled off 12 unanswered points to build a 40-28 lead with just over 16 minutes showing on the clock.  Houghton then managed to maintain its double-digit advantage throughout the remainder of the game as it pulled away for the win.

The Highlanders out-rebounded Malone by a 49-33 margin while shooting 43.1% (31 of 72) from the field, 38.5% (five of 13) from beyond the three-point arc, and 60.0% (six of 10) from the foul line.  The Pioneers, meanwhile, struggled to get their offense on track throughout much of the evening as the visitors connected on 19 of 57 (33.3%) field-goal attempts, four of 18 (22.2%) threes, and 11 of 16 (68.8%) free throws.  Kittle registered a team-high 17 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) followed with 13 points while Wilson ended the night with six points and 10 rebounds.  Center Ashley Dupler paced Houghton with game-high totals of 23 points and 18 rebounds.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday as the squad hosts a 7:00 p.m. contest against AMC foe Carlow (PA) University (5-11 overall, 1-6 AMC).  In a previous meeting between the two squads earlier this season (November 24th at Carlow), the Celtics edged Malone by a final score of 62-60.    

 

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Pioneers Drop Conference Games To Daemen, Houghton

The Malone University women’s basketball team lost a pair of American Mideast Conference games in the state of New York over the weekend as the squad fell 79-53 to Daemen College in Amherst, New York on Friday evening and 73-53 to Houghton College in Houghton, New York on Saturday afternoon.  With the pair of defeats, the Pioneers’ record fell to 4-13 overall and 1-5 in the AMC.

In Friday’s contest at Daemen, Malone trailed 33-20 at halftime after shooting just 23.5% (eight of 34) from the field over the first 20 minutes of action.  The Pioneers tallied the first six points of the second frame to pull within seven at 33-26.  Malone got no closer over the remainder of the game, though, as the Wildcats immediately responded, taking command of the contest with a 12-0 scoring run that put them on top 45-26.

Damen held a 49-37 advantage in total rebounds over the course of the evening while forcing 24 Pioneer turnovers and snagging 16 steals.  The Wildcats also hit 31 of 70 (44.3%) field-goal tries, five of 21 (23.8%) three-pointers, and 12 of 19 (63.2%) foul shots.  Malone ended the night having made 32.3% (20 of 62) of its shots from the floor, 23.5% (four of 17) of its tries from beyond the three-point arc and 69.2% (nine of 13) of its free throws.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) paced the Pioneers with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) followed with 15 points, four rebounds and three steals while sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s) posted 10 points and five rebounds.  Forward Sarah Soroka poured in 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the way for Daemen.

In Saturday’s game at Houghton, Malone held a 24-16 advantage with six minutes to play in the first half before the Highlanders stormed back, outscoring the Pioneers 12-2 over the remainder of the period to take a 28-26 lead into the locker room at intermission.  A basket by Wilson tied the game at 28-28 in the opening moments of the second half before the Highlanders rattled off 12 unanswered points to build a 40-28 lead with just over 16 minutes showing on the clock.  Houghton then managed to maintain its double-digit advantage throughout the remainder of the game as it pulled away for the win.

The Highlanders out-rebounded Malone by a 49-33 margin while shooting 43.1% (31 of 72) from the field, 38.5% (five of 13) from beyond the three-point arc, and 60.0% (six of 10) from the foul line.  The Pioneers, meanwhile, struggled to get their offense on track throughout much of the evening as the visitors connected on 19 of 57 (33.3%) field-goal attempts, four of 18 (22.2%) threes, and 11 of 16 (68.8%) free throws.  Kittle registered a team-high 17 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) followed with 13 points while Wilson ended the night with six points and 10 rebounds.  Center Ashley Dupler paced Houghton with game-high totals of 23 points and 18 rebounds.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday as the squad hosts a 7:00 p.m. contest against AMC foe Carlow (PA) University (5-11 overall, 1-6 AMC).  In a previous meeting between the two squads earlier this season (November 24th at Carlow), the Celtics edged Malone by a final score of 62-60.    

 

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Carlow Pulls Away From Malone In Second Half For 77-54 Victory

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell 77-54 to Carlow (PA) University in American Mideast Conference action at Osborne Hall on Tuesday evening as the visiting Celtics pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers by a 48-25 margin over the final 20 minutes.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-14 overall and 1-6 in the AMC while Carlow improved to 6-11 overall and 2-6 in the conference. 

Tuesday’s contest was knotted 29-29 at intermission but the Celtics then used a 15-2 scoring run early in the second stanza to increase a one-point advantage to 50-36 with 13:13 remaining.  Carlow was then able to maintain its double-digit lead over the remainder of the game en route to the 77-54 final.  The Celtics shot 50% from the field (17 of 34) and 50% from beyond the arc (six of 12) in the second stanza, ending the night with an overall shooting percentage of 40.3% (29 of 72).  Carlow also held a 46-39 advantage in total rebounds and made 10 of its 22 (45.5%) three-pointers and nine of its 12 (75.0%) free throws over the course of the evening.  Malone countered by connecting on 19 of 57 (33.3%) field-goal attempts, eight of 17 (47.1%) three-pointers and eight of 16 (50.0%) foul shots.

Pioneer guard Amy Kittle (Jr., Buckeye Trail H.S.) led all scorers with 20 points (5-16 FG, 2-6 3PT FG, 8-11 FT).  Freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) pulled down seven rebounds and drained all five of her three-pointers to end the night with 15 points.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) added six points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.  Carlow was led by center Danielle Lindsey, who posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.  Although the Celtics only had six players score in the contest, all six reached double figures.

Malone will return to action on Thursday evening at home with a 5:30 p.m. AMC match-up against Point Park (PA) University (7-5 overall, 3-1 AMC).  The contest will be broadcast on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM and over the internet at www.thelight959.com.

 

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Malone Drops 78-53 Decision To Point Park

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell 78-53 to Point Park (PA) University in American Mideast Conference play at Osborne Hall on Thursday evening.   Malone held a 19-17 advantage with seven and half minutes to play in the opening stanza but PPU then outscored the hosts 16-3 over the remainder of the period to take a 33-22 lead into the locker room at intermission.  Malone pulled to within three at 38-35 in the opening minutes of the second half.  However, Point Park quickly responded, putting the game out of reach with a 25-7 scoring run over the next seven minutes.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-15 overall and 1-7 in the AMC while Point Park improved to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

Malone hit eight of 20 (40.0%) treys to tie its season-high for made three-pointers.  However, the squad did not fare as well inside the arc, hitting only 13 of its 39 other shots from the floor to account for an overall field-goal percentage of 35.6% (21 of 59).  The hosts hit three of five (60.0%) free throws but also committed 20 turnovers that led to 23 Point Park points.  The visitors held a 49-34 advantage in total rebounds, snagged 16 steals and made 42.3% (30 of 71) of their field-goal attempts, 35.7% (10 of 28) of their threes, and 53.3% (eight of 15) of their free throws.

Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) led the way for Malone with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.   Sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) followed with 11 points while junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) notched eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.  Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) and freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) each added six points and four rebounds apiece.  Guard Ashley Henderson paced Point Park with 16 points and five assists.

Malone will now be idle over the weekend and will return to action on Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. AMC contest at the University of Northwestern Ohio (11-4 overall, 4-2 AMC).

 

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Northwestern Ohio Downs Pioneers, 70-54

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell on the road to the University of Northwestern Ohio in American Mideast Conference play on Tuesday evening by a final score of 70-54.  The Pioneers scored the first five points of the second stanza to cut the Racers’ 37-27 halftime lead to just five at 37-32.  However, Northwestern Ohio then outscored Malone 16-4 over the next eight minutes to build a commanding 53-36 advantage that the Pioneers could not overcome.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-16 overall and 1-8 in the AMC while UNOH improved to 14-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play with its fourth straight victory.

The Pioneers held an 11-5 lead five and ½ minutes into the contest before the Racers fought back with a 16-2 scoring run that put them on top 21-13 with just under nine minutes remaining in the first half.  Malone hit nine of 10 (90.0%) free throws on the evening but struggled from the field, connecting on just 29.9% (20 of 67) of its shots from the floor, including only 22.7% (five of 22) of its attempts from beyond the three-point arc.  UNOH countered by converting on 39.1% (27 of 69) of its field goals, 20.0% (six of 30) of its three-pointers, and 66.7% (10 of 15) of its foul shots.  Malone held a 47-44 advantage in total rebounds but was outscored 34-24 in the paint and committed 23 turnovers that led to 25 Racer points.

Freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) paced the Pioneers with a season-high 16 points.  Sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) followed with nine points, nine rebounds and three assists.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) also tossed in nine points while junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) posted six points with eight boards and four steals.  Guards Alexa Kennedy and Amanda Francis each notched 19 points to lead the way for Northwestern Ohio.

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. AMC contest at NAIA Division II #8 Shawnee State University (13-4 overall, 5-2 AMC).

 

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Eighth-Ranked Shawnee State Pulls Away Early For Conference Win Over Malone

The Malone University women’s basketball team suffered a tough 107-49 American Mideast Conference defeat at NAIA Division II No. 8 Shawnee State University on Saturday afternoon as the host Bears shot a sizzling 63.6% (21 of 33) from the field in the first period to build a commanding 57-29 halftime advantage.  The loss dropped the Pioneers’ record to 4-17 overall and 1-9 in the AMC while Shawnee State improved to 14-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

Malone trailed 52-36 in total rebounds and committed 26 turnovers that led to 27 Shawnee State points.  On the afternoon, the Pioneers converted on 20 of 67 (29.9%) field goal attempts, six of 23 (26.1%) three pointers and three of nine (33.3%) free throws.  Shawnee State countered by hitting 42 of 75 (56.0%) shots from the floor, eight of 14 (57.1%) threes, and 15 of 23 (65.2%) foul shots.  The Bears also snagged 18 steals and blocked 10 shots.

Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) paced Malone with 10 points.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) followed with nine points, four rebounds and four assists while freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) also tossed in nine points.  Guard Mallory Albers led Shawnee State with 21 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday as they begin a stretch of six straight home games with a 5:30 p.m. contest against Houghton (NY) College (11-6 overall, 6-4 AMC).   In a previous meeting between the two squads earlier this season at Houghton, the Highlanders topped the Pioneers by a final score of 73-53.  Streaming audio, video and statistics will all be available over the internet for Tuesday’s game (click here for links to each).  In addition, the contest will also be broadcast on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM.

 

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Houghton Pulls Away In Second Half For 79-61 Conference Victory Over Pioneers

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell at home to American Mideast Conference foe Houghton (NY) College on Tuesday evening by a final score of 79-61 as the Highlanders pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers by a 44-29 margin over the final 20 minutes.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-18 overall and 1-10 in the AMC while Houghton improved to 12-6 overall and 7-4 in the conference.

Malone used a 10-1 scoring run midway through the final period to trim a 17-point Houghton lead to just eight at 63-55 with six minutes remaining.  However, the Pioneers were unable to get any closer the rest of the way as the Highlanders quickly pushed their advantage back to double digits.  Houghton dominated inside for much of the game, holding a 47-32 advantage in total rebounds while outscoring Malone 42-18 in the paint.  On the evening, the visitors made 31 of 71 (43.7%) shots from the field, seven of 17 (41.2%) three-pointers, and 10 of 18 (55.6%) foul shots.  Malone countered by connecting on 22 of 55 (40.0%) field-goal tries, nine of 22 (40.9%) threes, and eight of 13 (61.5%) free throws.

Junior point guard Allyson Wilson (pictured above; Firestone H.S.) led the way for Malone with 20 points (9-16 FG, 1-2 3PT FG, 1-3 FT) and 17 rebounds.  Freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) followed with 18 points off the bench after splitting a pair of free throws and hitting six of seven shots from the field, including all five of her tries from beyond the three-point arc.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) posted eight points while sophomore guard Tyler Darland (Lakota East H.S.) chipped in with seven points.  Center Ashley Dupler paced Houghton with 28 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Malone will return to action on Saturday when it hosts a 2:00 p.m. American Mideast Conference contest against Wilberforce University (4-15 overall, 2-10 AMC).  Free live streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Saturday’s game (click here for links to each). 

 

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Wilberforce Outlasts Malone 73-65

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell 73-65 at home to Wilberforce University in American Mideast Conference play on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Bulldogs outscored the Pioneers 17-4 over the final four and half minutes to register a come-from-behind victory.  A made jumper by sophomore guard Tyler Darland (Lakota East H.S.) with 4:51 showing on the second-half clock put Malone in front 61-56, but the Pioneers managed just two buckets the rest of the way en route to the tough defeat.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-19 overall and 1-11 in the AMC while Wilberforce improved to 5-16 overall and 3-11 in the conference.

Saturday’s contest remained close throughout, featuring seven ties and eight lead changes.  The Pioneers jumped out to an 18-7 advantage but Wilberforce quickly fought back into the game with a 10-0 scoring run.  The Bulldogs led 36-33 at the half before a 7-0 Malone spurt early in the second period put the Pioneers back on top, 45-42.  Malone was unable to pull away, though, as Wilberforce rallied back in the final minutes.  The Pioneers connected on 27 of 64 (42.2%) shots from the field, six of 20 (30.0%) three-pointers and five of eight (62.5%) free throws over the course of the afternoon.  However, the hosts also committed 25 turnovers that led to 27 Bulldog points.  Wilberforce grabbed 13 steals, held a slim 48-45 advantage in total rebounds and made 38.0% (30 of 79) of its field-goal attempts, 17.6% (three of 17) of its threes and 62.5% (10 of 16) free throws.

Junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) led the way for Malone with 15 points.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) followed closely with 14 points and eight rebounds.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) also posted 14 points while sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (pictured above; Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Also making substantial contributions was freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) with seven points and nine boards.  Wilberforce was paced by guard Deidra Brown with 16 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they continue AMC play with a 5:30 p.m. contest against Notre Dame College (13-8 overall, 9-4 AMC).  Free live streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Tuesday’s game (click here for links to each). 

 

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Big Second-Half Surge Lifts Notre Dame Over Pioneers

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell at home on Tuesday evening to Notre Dame (OH) College as the visiting Falcons outscored the Pioneers 39-20 in the second half to pull away for a 73-54 American Mideast Conference victory.  The contest was knotted 34-34 at intermission before Notre Dame went on a 18-0 scoring run midway through the final stanza to put the game out of reach.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-20 overall and 1-12 in the AMC while the Falcons improved to 14-8 overall and 10-4 in the conference.

The Pioneers fell behind 26-13 midway through the opening frame but then fought back into the game by outscoring NDC 21-8 over the final eight minutes of the half.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) opened the second period by hitting a pair of free throws to put Malone in front by two but Notre Dame quickly answered back, notching 10 straight points to grab a 44-36 lead.  A jumper by junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy) pulled Malone to within five at 48-43 with 12:49 to play.  However, it was all Falcons the rest of the way as Notre Dame secured the victory by rattling off its 18 unanswered points.

After making 43.8% (14 of 32) of its first-half field-goal attempts, Malone struggled to get its offense on track in the second stanza, hitting only 29.6% (eight of 27) of its shots from the floor over the final 20 minutes to end the night with an overall shooting percentage of 37.3% (22 of 59).  The Pioneers also connected on six of 18 (33.3%) three-pointers and four of eight (50.0%) free throws over the course of the evening.  Notre Dame countered by knocking down 49.2% (30 of 61) of its shots from the field, 37.5% (six of 16) of its tries from beyond the three-point arc and 63.6% (seven of 11) of its attempts from the charity stripe.  Malone held a 36-34 advantage in total rebounds but also committed 18 turnovers that led to 21 Falcon points. 

Four minutes into the contest, junior guard Allyson Wilson (pictured above; Firestone H.S.) pulled down her first rebound of the night to become the 15th player in Malone women’s basketball history to reach 500 career boards.  Wilson finished the evening with a game-high 10 rebounds and now ranks 15th on the Pioneers’ all-time list with a total of 509 for her career. 

Freshman guard Cindy Netti (Lake H.S.) paced Malone with a season-high 12 points.  Freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) followed with nine points while Schloz came off the bench to contribute eight points and eight rebounds.  Forward Kealy McNally led the way for Notre Dame with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Friday when they host a 5:30 p.m. AMC contest against Daemen (NY) College (12-10 overall, 8-4 AMC).  Free live streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Friday’s game (click here for links to each). 

 

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Daemen Withstands Late Malone Comeback Attempt En Route To 83-69 Victory

The Malone University women’s basketball team went on a 24-6 scoring run in the latter stages of Friday’s home contest against Daemen (NY) College but the Pioneers’ late surge was not enough to overcome the Wildcats’ 25-point second-half advantage as the visitors went on to record an 83-69 American Mideast Conference victory.  Daemen was up 43-29 at the half and then stretched its lead to what appeared to be a commanding 68-43 margin with 9:19 remaining.  However, Malone refused to surrender, fighting back to within 74-67 with a little over two minutes to play before the Wildcats put the contest out of reach by hitting nine of their final 10 free throws.  Daemen improved to 13-10 overall and 9-4 in the AMC with the victory while the loss dropped the Pioneers to 4-21 overall and 1-13 in the conference.

On the evening, Malone connected on 26 of 64 (40.6%) field-goal attempts, six of 15 (40.0%) three-pointers, and all 11 of its free throws.  Daemen countered by converting on 28 of 56 (50%) shots from the floor, six of 18 (33.3%) threes and 21 of 24 (87.5%) foul shots.  The Wildcats also out-scored Malone 42-24 in the paint and held a 38-27 advantage in total rebounds. 

Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with 15 points and four assists.  Junior guards Allyson Wilson (pictured above; Firestone H.S.) and Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) each followed with 14 points and three steals.  Wilson also pulled down seven rebounds and, with two made free throws just before halftime, moved into the Top 25 on the Malone women’s basketball all-time scoring list.  Wilson has now registered 813 career points, which ranks as the 24th highest scoring total in Pioneer women’s history.

Other Pioneer contributors included sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.), freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) and junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy), who all posted eight points apiece.  Forward Sarah Soroka paced Daemen with 22 points and eight boards.

Malone will return to action on Saturday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. home contest against Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College (11-13 overall, 5-9 AMC).  Free live streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Saturday’s game (click here for links to each). 

 

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Early Second-Half Spurt Keys Roberts Wesleyan To 69-62 Triumph Over Pioneers

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell 69-62 at home to Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College in American Mideast Conference play on Saturday afternoon as the Raiders used a 21-4 scoring run in the opening minutes of the second stanza to overcome a 33-25 halftime deficit.  Pioneer guard Amy Kittle (pictured left; Jr., Buckeye Trail H.S.) nailed a three-pointer on Malone’s opening possession of the final stanza to give the hosts their largest lead of the game at 36-25.  However, Roberts Wesleyan then stormed back into the contest, using its big scoring spurt to pull in front 46-40 with 10:42 remaining.  The Pioneers managed to keep the game close the rest of the way, twice cutting the deficit to three, but Malone was unable to completely recover from the Raiders’ big surge as Roberts Wesleyan went on to record the six-point triumph.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-22 overall and 1-14 in the conference while the Raiders improved to 12-13 overall and 6-9 in the AMC.

After making just 24.1% (seven of 29) of its first-half field goals, Roberts Wesleyan got its offense on track in the second stanza, hitting 43.8% (14 of 32) of its shots from the floor over the final 20 minutes to end the game with an overall shooting percentage of 34.4% (21 of 61).  The Raiders also shot 28.6% (six of 21) from three-point range and 70.0% (21 of 30) from the foul line over the course of the afternoon.  Malone countered by knocking down 22 of 63 (34.9%) shots from the field, seven of 23 (30.4%) threes, and 11 of 17 (64.7%) foul shots.  Roberts Wesleyan trailed 46-42 in total rebounds but also scored 20 points off 18 Pioneer turnovers.

Kittle ended the night with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.  Junior forward Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) followed with 12 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, and three assists.  Freshman forward Tara Kies (Cloverleaf H.S.) added nine points while sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) contributed eight points, six boards, and three steals.  Roberts Wesleyan was led by guard Marissa Bunce, who scored 22 of her game-high 28 points in the second half.

The Pioneers will look to rebound on Tuesday evening when they host a 5:30 p.m. contest against NAIA Division II #24 Walsh University (18-7 overall, 11-3 AMC).  Free live streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Tuesday’s game (click here for links to each).    

 

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Strong First Half Carries No. 22 Walsh Past Malone

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell at home to local rival Walsh University on Tuesday evening as the Cavaliers shot over 60% from the field in the first half, outscoring the Pioneers 46-26 over the first 20 minutes en route to a 90-59 American Mideast Conference victory.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-23 overall and 1-15 in the AMC while the Cavaliers, who were ranked 22nd in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll, picked up their third win in a row, improving to 19-7 overall and 12-3 in the conference.   

After falling behind 14-7 in the early going, the Pioneers scored six unanswered points to trim the deficit to 14-13 seven minutes into the game.  Malone was unable to pull even, however, as Walsh outscored the Pioneers 32-13 over the remainder of the stanza to take a commanding 20-point advantage to the locker room at halftime.  The Cavaliers then maintained their double-digit lead throughout the remainder of the contest.

Both teams struggled to take care of the basketball throughout the evening as the squads combined for a total of 49 turnovers (26 for Malone, 23 for Walsh).  The Cavaliers held a 34-23 advantage on the boards, grabbed 17 steals, and outscored Malone by a 44-24 margin in the paint.  Walsh ended the night having made 37 of 62 (59.7%) shots from the field, seven of 16 (43.8%) threes and nine of 10 (90.0%) free throws.  The Pioneers, meanwhile, hit 21 of 53 (39.6%) field goal tries, five of 20 (25.0%) three-pointers and 12 of 14 (85.7%) foul shots.

Junior guard Allyson Wilson (pictured above; Firestone H.S.) led the way for Malone with 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals.  Sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) followed with 12 points and six steals.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) posted nine points, six rebounds, and four assists while freshman guard Cindy Netti (Lake H.S.) came off the bench to tally eight points.  Forward Jessie Miller paced Walsh, scoring 21 of her game-high 27 points in the first half.

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a 2:00 p.m. AMC contest against Point Park University (11-11 overall, 7-7 AMC).

 

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Point Park Pulls Away Early To Top Malone, 83-54

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell 83-54 on the road to Point Park (PA) University in American Mideast Conference play on Saturday afternoon after being outscored 46-19 through the first 20 minutes of play.  Point Park pulled away early by forcing 16 first-half turnovers and allowing Malone to make just six of 21 (28.6%) field-goal attempts during the opening stanza.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-24 overall and 1-16 in the AMC while Point Park improved to 13-11 overall and 9-7 in the conference.

After struggling to get its offense on track in the first half, Malone was able to sink 12 of its 27 (44.4%) shots from the floor in the second period to end the day with an overall shooting percentage of 37.5% (18 of 48).  The visitors also hit five of 20 (25.0%) three-pointers and 13 of 17 (76.5%) free throws over the course of the afternoon.  Point Park countered by making 31 of 71 (43.7%) field goal attempts, 10 of 31 (32.3%) three-pointers and 11 of 20 (55.0%) foul shots.  The hosts also held a slim 39-36 advantage in total rebounds and scored 31 points off Malone turnovers.

Junior guard Ashley Speicher (pictured above; Plymouth H.S.) scored 10 points to pace Malone.  Sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.), junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) and freshman guard Cindy Netti (Lake H.S.) all followed with eight points apiece while junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.  Guard Ashley Henderson led the way for Point Park with 21 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Malone returns to action on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. when it hosts Ursuline College (5-22 overall, 1-15 AMC) its final home contest of the season.

 

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Ursuline Holds On To Defeat Pioneers, 73-63

The Malone University women’s basketball team fell 73-63 to Ursuline College on Tuesday in its final home game of the season as the Arrows pulled away late, outscoring the Pioneers 9-0 over the final two minutes to record the 10-point American Mideast Conference triumph.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 4-25 overall and 1-17 in the AMC while Ursuline snapped a five-game losing streak, improving to 6-22 overall and 2-15 in the conference.

After falling behind 40-28 at halftime, Malone slowly chipped away at the deficit, pulling to within one at 56-55 on a three-pointer by junior guard Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) with 6:23 remaining in the second stanza.  Ursuline immediately responded by rattling off eight unanswered points over the next minute and a half, stretching its lead back to nine at 64-55.  However, the Pioneers were able to match the Arrows' scoring run as a jumper by junior forward Alison Schloz (pictured left; St. Ursula Academy), a lay-up and two free throws by junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) and two more made foul shots by Speicher brought Malone back to within one at 64-63 with two minutes to play.  The Pioneers were unable to pull even, though, as Ursuline held Malone scoreless the rest of the way, cementing the win by hitting all six of its free throws during the final 30 seconds of the contest.

Both teams struggled to take care of the basketball throughout the evening as the Pioneers committed 26 turnovers compared to 24 miscues for the Arrows.  Ursuline shot the ball well over the course of the game, connecting on 27 of its 52 (51.9%) field goal attempts, five of its 17 (29.4%) threes and 14 of its 16 (87.5%) free throws.  Malone countered by converting on 21 of 56 (37.5%) shots from the floor, seven of 21 (33.3%) three-pointers and 14 of 18 (77.8%) foul shots.  The Pioneers held a slim 32-30 advantage in total rebounds but were outscored by a 30-16 margin in the paint. 

Schloz came off the bench to toss in a team-high 16 points and pull down six rebounds.  Speicher hit four of her six three-point attempts, ending the night with 14 points.  Wilson added nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals.  Sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) posted eight points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals while senior student assistant coach Bree Zehnder (Garaway H.S.) started the game and totaled two points, two assists and a steal in just 12 minutes of action (Zehnder played for the Pioneers for 2 ½ seasons before a back injury during her junior year brought her playing career to a close).  Guard Brittany Nair paced Ursuline with a game-high 28 points while forward Chelsea Ciptak notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.

Malone will conclude its 2009-2010 campaign on Saturday when it travels to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (17-7 overall, 10-6 AMC) for a 5:30 p.m. AMC contest against the Cougars. 

 

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Malone Wraps Up Season With Loss At Mt. Vernon Nazarene

The Malone University women’s basketball team concluded its 2009-2010 campaign on Saturday evening with a 75-40 American Mideast Conference loss at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University.  The Cougars held a 33-25 lead at intermission and then used a 23-0 scoring run early in the second half to put the contest out of reach.  With the tough defeat, the Pioneers ended the year with a record of 4-26 overall and 1-18 in the AMC.  Mt. Vernon Nazarene improved to 19-8 overall and 12-7 in the conference with the win as the Cougars will compete as the No. 5 seed in next week’s seven-team AMC Postseason Tournament. 

A made three-pointer by junior guard Ashley Speicher (pictured left; Plymouth H.S.) with 6 ½ minutes remaining in the first half gave Malone a 20-19 advantage.  Unfortunately, this would turn out to be the Pioneers' only lead of the night as MVNU outscored Malone 56-20 the rest of the way.  On the evening, Malone made 16 of 49 (32.7%) shots from the field, three of 18 (16.7%) three-pointers, and five of six (83.3%) free throws.  The Cougars countered by hitting 27 of their 60 (45.0%) attempts from the floor, four of their 17 (23.5%) tries from beyond the three-point arc and 17 of their 28 (60.7%) foul shots.  Mt. Vernon Nazarene also held a 38-32 advantage in total rebounds, forced 33 Pioneer turnovers and grabbed 18 steals.

Speicher paced Malone with eight points.  Junior guard Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) followed with six points, seven rebounds and four assists.  Junior guard Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) posted five points and seven boards while sophomore guard Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.) notched five points with four rebounds.  Guard Sierra Fletcher led MVNU with 24 points, four assists and six steals while Cougar forward Amanda Himes recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards.