Box Score

After losing its first three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests in the early going of the 2013-14 season, the Malone University women's basketball team was more determined than ever to collect a conference victory Saturday and the Pioneers did just that in an 89-77 home win over Northwood University (MI) in Malone's Osborne Hall. 

The victory bumped Malone record to 5-3 overall on the season and to 1-3 in the conference while the Timberwolves fell to 4-4 overall and  to 2-2 in GLIAC play.

The best overall shooting percentage and top three-point percentage of the season for Malone, along with a dominating rebounding effort, were the primary forces behind the Pioneer triumph.  Malone tallied a 60.7% effort (34-56) from the floor and a 53.8% mark (7-13) from three-point land while the visitors connected on 44.8% (26-58) from the field and just 23.1% (3-13) from beyond the arc.

And while the Timberwolves held a decisive edge at the free throw line, converting 22 of 26 for 84.6% to Malone's 14 of 19 for 53.8%, an impressive 41-20 winning margin on the boards by the Pioneers helped Malone seize control of that aspect of the contest.

Although Malone jumped out to three separate seven-point leads midway through the first half, Northwood fought back to grab a two-point lead, at 40-38, at the intermission.

The contest remained close throughout the first eight minutes of the final stanza, with Malone holding a slight 58-55 edge, before the Pioneers went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to notch a 70-55 lead with 8:41 left in the game.  From there, Malone would not be denied its first GLIAC victory of the campaign as the Timberwolves would get no closer than nine points during the final segment of the contest in the Pioneers' 12-point, 89-77 win.

Guard Deborah Simmers pocketed her Malone career-high scoring effort with a game-high 29 points on 10 of 15 shooting, including three of six from three-point range.  She was also six-of-six at the free throw line.

Guard Selana Reale tallied 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds to go along with six assists and two steals.  Forward Bri Libertore netted 11 points  for the contest in 14 minutes of play with a perfect shooting effort at three-for-three from the field and five-for-five at the line. Guard Sydnee Penn also hit twin figures with 11 points and also recorded five rebounds, six assists and two steals.  In addition, guard Logan Pastor, who scored eight points, led the team in assists with seven and also yanked down eight rebounds.

Northwood was led in scoring by Gabrielle Rivette, who tossed in 24 points, followed by Lauren Robak who netted 20 points.  Kaitlin Susan paced the Timberwolves in rebounds with six.

Malone will next compete in an exhibition game at NCAA Div. I Youngstown State University (2-6) on Monday (Dec. 16th) at 11:05 a.m.  Live stats, video and audio will be available for this game.