ASHLAND, Ohio - No. 8 seed Malone and No. 4 Ursuline were both eliminated from the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Championship Midwest Regional on Friday evening on the campus of Ashland University.
Malone fell to region host and top overall seed Ashland in the early game, 72-40, while Ursuline was edged out by No. 5 Grand Valley State, 73-66.
A total of four games were played at Kates Gymnasium as regional action around the country tipped off with 64 teams originally in the bracket.
Other Midwest Region results included No. 2 Drury beating No. 7 Bellarmine while No. 3 Saginaw Valley State beat No. 6 Lewis in the first contest completed. Ashland and Grand Valley State will play against each other tomorrow.
The G-MAC stars were strategically swarmed by their opponents as Malone first-team all-conference guard Rachel Goddard faced on-the-ball pressure immediately after crossing halfcourt or two-time league player of the year Laney Lewis was doubled in the post on every touch.
It was also a sign of respect and an understanding that the Malone/Ursuline impact players could change the outcome of the game.
The Pioneers faced a tall task in matching up against Ashland, the nation's unanimous top-ranked program and undefeated at 31-0 going into this year's tournament. Malone was fresh off the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship tournament and by virtue of the automatic qualifier, drew the tough postseason assignment.
In front of their home fans, the Eagles of Ashland raced out to a 25-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Ashland came in averaging almost 96 points per game, but the Eagles clamped down as Malone struggled to a 1-for-17 start from the field and finished 10-of-58 on all shots. The Pioneers closed the chapter on their terrific season and playoff run at 23-7 overall.
To Malone's credit, the Pioneers held Ashland to a season-low point total.
Just a four-point game after the third quarter, Grand Valley State mustered a 10-0 run against Ursuline to begin the fourth, ultimately just too much separation as the final seconds ticked down.
Grand Valley State was in the NCAA Final Four a year ago and the Lakers' playoff experience factored. Since no player averages more than 10 points per game, GVSU's forte is defense and the Lakers were able to slow down the pace while making the Arrows work from halfcourt sets.
Ursuline sophomore Natalie Koenig scored 26 points and made five three-pointers. Lewis finished with 19 and senior guard Erica Huber emotionally finished out her accomplished career with 10.
The Arrows closed their 2016-17 campaign at 23-8 overall.
This year's regional marked the first time two G-MAC schools were able to compete in an eight-team bracket.