Oiler women have win streak snapped by Malone

FINDLAY -- The University of Findlay women's basketball team played hard on Thursday, but came up just shy against a hot-shooting Malone University team. The Oilers fell 79-75, snapping their five-game winning streak after a late, game-clinching three-pointer by Malone's Kyli Horn. Horn finished with a team-high 19 points on the evening, going 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Pioneers' ability to knock down outside jumpers was the difference in Thursday's contest. As a team, Malone went 15-of-29 from deep. "They got the ball in some spots, and we forced some people to shoot today that normally don't make those," Oilers coach Michele Durand said. "They made them today. I would give them the credit. I don't know that it was so much bad that we were doing."Findlay played a very good first half, and found themselves up by four points headed into the break. UF built that lead partially because it took a while for Malone to heat up from three-point territory, going just 2-for-7 in the first quarter. Malone then went 6-for-8, 3-for-7, and 4-for-7, shooting the lights out to overcome Findlay's staunch defense. "We rebounded really well (in the first half)," Durand said. "We did a really good job on their center. We had great energy. I think all the way around we had really great energy, and were playing like we can play."That defense was once again led by guard Janae Hoying. Hoying finished with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, as the Oilers snagged 8 steals and 5 blocks overall. "That's why she's in," Durand said of Hoying's defensive intensity. "We need her pressuring that ball." Graduate forward Kate Ellis led the team with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, stuffing the stat sheet once again. Ellis was honored before the game as she recently became just the 25th Oiler to score 1000 points. Forward Sofia Mokofisi, who stepped into the lineup in Ella Mescher's absence, went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, ending with 14 points and 6 rebounds. "We have a lot of depth," Durand said. "Sofia Mokofisi hasn't had a chance yet this year. Tonight she showed why she needs one. She played really well stepping up in Ella's absence. We've thought our team was pretty deep the whole year. Unfortunately, we've had some injuries, and we can't control injuries. I'm really proud of our kids, they've done a great job. Malone played just a little bit better tonight."Forward Alyssa Ziehler notched 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. MacKenzie Schulz recorded 1points and 3 rebounds. Addisyn Freeman had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal as well. The Oilers fell to 5-3 following the loss, now 0-1 in G-MAC play. They will be back in action on Saturday, taking on Walsh on the road. O-G graduate Erin Kaufman, now with Malone, had 16 points and 9 rebounds. MALONE (6-2)Horn 6-2–19, Kaufman 5-4–16, Miller 2-4–9, Price 3-0–8, Troyer 3-1–7, Krupa 3-00-7, Hunt 2-0–6, Armstrong 1-1-4, Bruce 1-0–3. TOTALS: 26-12–79.FINDLAY (5-3)Ellis 6-3–16, Mokofisi 7-0–14, Ziehler 5-2–12, Schulz 2-6–10, Hoying 3-2–9, Stephens 2-0–5, Stockton 2-0–4, Freeman 1-1–3, Callahan 1-0–2. TOTALS: 29-14–75.Malone 17 20 20 22–79Findlay 24 17 14 20–753-POINT FIELD GOALS: Malone 15-29 (Horn 5); Findlay 3-15 (Ellis, Hoying, Stephens).REBOUNDS: Malone 32 (Kaufman 9); Findlay 36 (Mokofisi 6).TURNOVERS: Malone 12, Findlay 9.