SALEM, W.Va. – Despite a last-second three-pointer from junior
Endia Jones at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime, Salem University women's basketball team fell to Malone 81-75 in overtime, Wednesday afternoon.
The loss drops the Tigers to a 0-5 start, while Malone jumps to 2-3.
The Tigers shot 35.1 percent from the field (27-77), while they were 33.3 percent from behind the arc (12-36), whereas Malone was 37.9 percent from the field (25-66) and 34.5 percent from three (10-29).
Salem outrebounded the Pioneer 42-38, while the Tigers also posted more second-chance points, 23-17.
The Tigers bench generated 41 points, while Malone's had just 24.
Jones led the way for Salem, as she netted 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while junior
Aaliyah Holmes generated 14 points and dished out three assists.
Freshman
Nerea Arambarri Fernandez recorded nine points and six rebounds, while freshman
Tamia Tart scored seven and snagged seven rebounds.
In the first quarter, Salem found itself down 7-0 at the beginning of the game, but chipped back and trialed 20-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers took the lead in the second quarter with 5:30 left in the half, as freshman
Daniela Quesada-Villalobos drained a three for a 26-24 lead. Salem held Malone to just seven points in the second quarter as the Tigers led at intermission 36-27.
In the third quarter, the Tigers were held to just six points, as Malone rallied to take a 45-42 lead at the end of the third quarter.
There were four different lead changes in the fourth quarter, as Malone's Ellen Doyle hit a layup with 43 seconds remaining to take a 62-61 lead over Salem. With three seconds left in the contest, Malone's Sydney Wentling hit two free throws to take a three-point lead over the Tigers 64-61.
With no time left on the clock, Holmes found Jones at the top of the key, as Jones knocked down a 25-foot three-pointer to send the contest to overtime tied 64-64.
In overtime, Holmes knocked down back-to-back threes to give the Tigers a 70-66 lead with 3:58 left in the game.
Malone ensued with a 13-1 run with 33 seconds remaining, leading the Tigers 79-71.
Salem is back in action Saturday as it travels to Charleston for a contest slated for 2:00 p.m.
