INDIANAPOLIS – On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Malone sophomore guard Holly Groff (Macdeonia, OH / Nordonia HS) was tabbed as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week on Monday.
Groff and Pioneers (6-8, 4-6 G-MAC) defended their home floor in Osborne Hall with wins against Lake Erie and Ursuline. Malone toppled the Arrows in a rematch of last year’s G-MAC Championship game, handing Ursuline just its second league loss of the season.
Despite Ursuline and Findlay (vs. Hillsdale) both suffering defeats, the top two teams in the league standings still haven’t changed position with UF at 10-2 and UC at 9-2. Cedarville is closing the gap at 7-2 and winners of four straight while Ohio Dominican and Hillsdale also have seven conference victories.
Cedarville and Findlay have both ranked in the WBCA Top-25 at some point this season.
The talented point guard has succeeded former program standout Rachel Goddard as the Pioneers continue to battle for postseason positioning in the second half of the conference schedule.
Groff averaged 15.5 points, six assists, four rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in Malone’s weekly sweep.
In 36 minutes, Groff scored 13 points and handed out six assists to her teammates while grabbing five rebounds. She added two steals against the Storm.
Groff contributed 18 points against Ursuline on 7-of-11 shooting. She also had six assists and three rebounds while sinking a pair of triples.
In 14 games, Groff is averaging 10.1 ppg and 4.3 assists per contest, a category that she currently ranks third in the conference.