The Malone University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday in a tough 50-47 home setback to non-conference opponent University of Charleston (WV). 

With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 2-1 overall on the season (0-0 GLIAC) while the Golden Eagles improved to 4-1.

In the first half, Malone jumped out to an early 12-4 lead, its largest of the game, before the visitors went on a 20-4 run over the next 11 minutes to grab a 24-16 lead with 5:06 left in the half.  The margin stayed roughly the same for the remainder of the stanza as the Golden Eagles held a 30-23 advantage at the intermission.

In the final period, Charleston matched its largest lead of the game, at 42-32, on a jumper with 14:29 left in the contest before the Pioneers went on an 8-2 run to trim their deficit to 44-40 with 8:06 remaining. Although the Golden Eagles would push the lead back out to 10 points, at 50-40, with 5:22 left, the visitors would not score again as Malone made one final run at victory.

After a jumper by forward Lindsy Snyder with 3:25 left and a three-point basket by guard Selana Reale at the 2:09 mark cut the UC lead to just five points, at 50-45, Snyder would later tally a layup, on a foul, with just 48 seconds to put the score at 50-47 in favor of the Golden Eagles. Snyder was unable to make the free throw to follow but, with a steal by guard Audrey Myers with 28 seconds left, Malone would get one final chance to tie.  But, after a timeout by Malone with 11 seconds left to set a play, the Pioneers were unable to convert on a pair of shots in the final seconds, as UC held on for the 50-47 victory.

For Malone, which hadn't played for two weeks due to a cancelled game last Saturday vs. Ohio Valley University (WV), Reale paced the squad with 15 points, including three baskets from three-point range, to go along with three boards and four assists. 

Guard Rachel Goddard also tallied double-digit scoring with 13 points, and three treys of her own, while also grabbing four rebounds.

Guard Logan Pastor dished out a team-high seven assists and also had two blocks and a steal while chipping in four points for the Pioneer cause. Forward Lyndsy Snyder, who tossed in eight points, led the team in rebounds with five on the day.

For Charleston, Nichole Perry and Kayla Dozier paced the team with 12 points each while Monet Saunders tallied a team-high seven rebounds.

Malone will next compete in its first GLIAC contest of the season when the squad hosts Michigan Tech University on Thursday, December 4th at 6:00 p.m.