Box Score

The Malone University women's basketball team (13-11, 9-11 GLIAC) could not overcome a season-low 27.9% field-goal percentage Thursday night, falling at Hillsdale College 52-47 in a tight game that saw nine lead changes and eight ties.

The game was close from start to finish with neither team holding a lead larger than seven points at any point. The Pioneers staked themselves an early 6-0 lead behind four quick points from sophomore Lindsy Snyder before Hillsdale responded with ten unanswered points. Malone would trail by as many as 16-9 but a 7-0 run would put them back on top 17-16. The two teams would exchange buckets and head into intermission tied at 22.

The second half was much like the first in neither team could shake one another. The Chargers (10-13, 7-13 GLIAC) were the first to land a punch in the second half, opening on a 7-2 spurt to lead 29-24. However, Malone would battle back and deadlock the score at 31 after a Selana Reale free throw. Holding a 41-40 lead with only eight minutes remaining, the Pioneers went on a quick 5-0 burst, thanks to a pair of buckets from Snyder, to give them a 46-40 lead with 6:55 to play.

Unfortunately, Malone would go scoreless over the next 5:05 to allow the Chargers to take a 49-46 lead. Reale would split a pair of free-throws to pull the Pioneers within two with 1:40 remaining but the Chargers' Megan Fogt, who was a thorn in Malone's side all night finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds (both game-highs), nailed a jumper to make it a two possession game.

Malone missed their final seven shot attempts of the game to finish 17 of 61 (27.9%) from the field. The visitors also struggled from behind the arc, tying a season-low in three-pointers by going 1 of 14 (7.1%). It was only the second time all year the Pioneers failed to reach 50 points. Hillsdale had a little bit more success, going 20 of 49 (40.8%) from the floor and 4 of 13 (30.8%) from deep. Malone kept the game close despite their shooting woes by holding a 48-31 advantage on the boards and hauling in a season-high 22 offensive rebounds.

Reale led the Pioneers in scoring with 12 points while Snyder finished with eight points and nine rebounds. Freshman Audrey Myers was also active, ending with eight points and eight boards, five of which came on the offensive glass.

Malone will try to bounce back from the loss on Saturday, Feb. 23rd, at 3:00 p.m. when the squad hosts its final home contest of the season against the University of Findlay Oilers (20-4 overall, 17-3 GLIAC), the squad ranked at No. 25 in the most recent NCAA Division II National Poll.  Live statistics will be available during the game at http://livestats.prestosports.com/malone/