The Malone College women’s basketball team picked up an 81-69 victory at Mount Vernon Nazarene University last Tuesday evening in its only contest of the week.  With the win, the Pioneers extend their season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 7-0 overall record and 1-0 mark in the American Mideast Conference South Division.
     Malone trailed Mount Vernon Nazarene 39-37 at halftime as the contest remained close throughout most of the game until late in the second period when the Pioneers were able to pull away for the 81-69 victory.  Forwards Nikki Parson (Sr., Garaway H.S.) and Cara Shiplett (Jr., Northwest H.S.) each posted double-doubles in the game as Parson recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds while Shiplett tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds, marking the fourth consecutive double-double for the 5’10” junior.
     This dominating performance in the paint helped the Pioneers out-rebound the Cougars 53-32.  Junior guard Kellyn Murphy (St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S.) added 11 points and six rebounds while senior forward Jennifer Miday (North Canton Hoover H.S.) contributed nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.  In addition, senior guard Erica Mishler (Hiland H.S.) recorded eight points and four assists.
     This week, Malone (7-0, 1-0 AMC S) will hit the road for two AMC South match-ups, starting with a trip to Wilberforce University (1-4, 0-1 AMC S) on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.  The Pioneers will then travel to Urbana University (2-3, 0-1 AMC S) on Saturday to face the Blue Knights at 2:00 p.m.
     This week’s opponents:  Wilberforce- Malone leads the all-time series with Wilberforce 10-4.  The two teams split last year’s series with the Pioneers winning the first meeting 79-69 (at Malone) and Wilberforce taking game two 68-61 (at Wilberforce).  Urbana- The Blue Knights hold a 20-15 advantage in the all-time series with Malone although the Pioneers swept the two-game series last season, winning 67-57 (at Urbana) and 54-47 (at Malone).  The Pioneers have won the last three meetings between the schools.
     Malone notes: Nikki Parson leads the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game followed by Cara Shiplett at 12.0…Shiplett paces the squad in rebounding at 9.1 per outing followed by Parson at 8.3 per contest…Erica Mishler leads the team in assists with 3.0 per game.

Men’s Basketball Posts 1-1 Record On The Week

     The Malone College men’s basketball team fell 97-75 to NAIA #14 Mount Vernon Nazarene University on the road last Tuesday before bouncing back at home on Saturday to defeat Kentucky Christian University by the final score of 115-92.  Following the 1-1 week, the Pioneers’ overall record now stands at 3-2 with a 0-1 mark in the American Mideast Conference South Division.
     Against Mount Vernon Nazarene, the Cougars sank 12 of their 22 (54.5%) first half three-point field goal attempts to take a 55-43 halftime lead.  Malone was able to cut the deficit to two points early in the second stanza before the Cougars pulled away for the 97-75 conference win.  Junior guard Ben Carver (Shelby H.S.) paced the Pioneers with 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.  Junior post player Tyler Renner (Garaway H.S.) and sophomore forward Jarrod Ferwerda (Lake H.S.) each followed with 15 points while senior forward James Hannum tallied 11 points and nine boards.  The Cougars held a 41-32 advantage in total rebounds while committing 12 turnovers to Malone’s 10.  In addition, senior guard Jesse Schlabach (Lake H.S.) returned to the lineup to post seven points and two assists.
     Against Kentucky Christian, Malone held a 55-48 lead at the half before outscoring the Knights 60-44 in the second half en route to the 115-92 win.  Renner paced six Pioneers in double figures with 28 points (12-17 FG, 1-2 3PT FG, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists.  Carver followed with 15 points and five assists while senior guard Chris Miller (Hiland H.S.) added 13 points.  Hannum tallied 12 points and 10 boards to help Malone out-rebound Kentucky Christian 45-32.  Ferwerda and freshman guard Linc Rottman (Triway H.S.) also each posted 12 points in the contest.  In addition, Ferwerda pulled down five rebounds while Rottman dished out four assists. 
     This week, Malone (3-2, 0-1 AMC S) will travel to Wilberforce University (1-1, 0-1 AMC S) on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. contest before returning home on Thursday to face Notre Dame (OH) College (2-4, 0-0 AMC N) at 7:30 p.m.
     This week’s opponents:  Wilberforce- The Pioneers lead the all-time series with Wilberforce 20-11.  Malone swept both games of the series last season, winning 95-84 (at Malone) and 92-76 (at Wilberforce).  The Pioneers have won the last three match-ups with the Bulldogs.  Notre Dame- Malone holds a 3-0 lead in the all-time series between the two schools, including a 75-73 win in the last meeting at the 2004 Hoops 4 Healing Classic.
     Malone Notes: Tyler Renner leads the team in scoring at 21.6 points per game followed by Ben Carver at 15.0…Renner also paces the squad in rebounding at 7.8 per outing followed by James Hannum at 7.0 per contest…Carver leads the team in assists with 4.2 per game.