Box Score

Solid defensive play lifted the Malone University women's basketball team in a thriller in Malone's Osborne Hall Thursday night as the Pioneers battled past fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Ferris State University (MI) in a 46-44 victory.

Midway through the first half, the Pioneers (8-5 overall, 3-4 GLIAC) jumped out to a six-point lead at 14-8, which was the largest lead of the half by either team.  The Bulldogs (3-6 overall, 3-4 GLIAC) managed to keep the game within reach, though, as they only trailed 26-22 at the half. 

In the second half, the Pioneers would proceed to execute a defensive game-plan that led to victory.  The largest run of the game was an eight-point surge by the Pioneers in that second stanza that gave the squad a 40-30 lead with only 10 minutes left to play. The Bulldogs wouldn't be easily denied as they responded, hitting three consecutive jump shots which cut the margin to four points with just over five minutes on the clock.

As both teams went back and forth, the score eventually was knotted up at 42-42 with under two minutes remaining in the contest. In a close defensive game, which can often come down to which team makes key free throws down the stretch, the Pioneer did just that.  Malone led 45-44 with only 11 seconds on the clock, at which point Ferris State failed to convert two free throws that could have tied the game or given them the lead. After the Bulldogs' second failed attempt, guard Logan Pastor came down with the huge rebound and was quickly fouled. Pastor sank one of two from the line to put Malone up 46-44 with eight seconds left.  FSU was unable to get a shot off before the final  buzzer, which sealed the victory for the Pioneers.

Both teams struggled from the field as the Pioneers made 17 of 50 (34%) field goal attempts and four of 21 (19%) three-point tries. The Bulldogs shared similar struggles in making 17 of 49 (34.7%) field goal attempts and five of 17 (29.4%)  from three-point range. Although the Pioneers shot a free throw percentage of 61.5% (8-13) which was lower than the Bulldogs'  71.4% (5-7), they managed to reach the line nearly twice as often as FSU.

Guards Sydnee Penn and Selana Reale led the way for the Pioneers with 12 points each while forward Bri Libertore followed with six points. Forward Tara Schaffter grabbed a team-high six boards followed by three other Pioneers who recorded four each.

For the Bulldogs, Sarash DeShone paced the team in scoring with 12 points while Christina Branch led the squad in rebounds with six.

The Pioneers look to string consecutive wins together as they face off against Grand Valley State University (MI), who are 8-3 overall and 6-1 in GLIAC play, at home on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Live stats are available for this contest.