Canton, Ohio – The University of Findlay women's basketball team was on the road on Saturday, Feb. 8 taking on the league-leading Malone University Pioneers. The Oilers trailed with less than two minutes remaining but battled to earn a 70-68 victory. With that victory, Findlay improves to 18-6 overall with an 11-4 record in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while the Pioneers fall out of first place in the conference, now at 18-4 overall and 12-2 in the G-MAC.
For the Oilers, it is the first time reaching 18 wins in a season since 2019-20.
Findlay, which had lost five consecutive games in the series against Malone, trailed through ten minutes, but used a 12-0 run early in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead, ultimately leading to a 27-22 halftime advantage.
The home Pioneers took back control in the third quarter, scoring 28 points while shooting 75% from the floor. That ten-minute stretch put MU in front 50-46.
Malone would lead by as much as eight points in the fourth quarter, but a 17-8 run by the Oilers was capped with a triple by senior Janae Hoying, putting the Oilers in front 67-66 with just 1:30 to play.
Findlay took a two-point advantage on a free throw by senior Chloe Callahan with 15 seconds to play. The Oilers then locked down defensively, forcing a loose ball with two seconds left, ending the game without a shot attempt.
The Oilers shot 26-of-48 (54%) from the floor including 6-of-11 (55%) from three-point range while hitting 12-of-19 (63%) from the charity stripe. Malong made 30-of-66 (46%) from the floor and held a 36-to-27 rebounding advantage.
Senior Kate Ellis led the way for the Oilers, scoring 18 points and dishing out three assists, both team-highs. Callahan scored 13 while sophomore MacKenzie Schulz chipped in with 12. Junior Alyssa Ziehler also reached double figures, scoring 11 points. She also had five boards.
Findlay will be back on the court on Thursday, Feb. 13 with a contest against the Ohio Dominican Panthers in Croy Gymnasium. That game will tip off at 5:30 pm.
