SAULT STE. MARIE - Malone out-scored the Lake Superior State women's basketball team in the paint nearly 2-to-1 during the second half to win Thursday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference home opener at LSSU, 62-57.

Malone center Lindsy Snyder and guard Selana Reale had an impressive one-two punch, scoring 15 points each. Snyder also totaled 12 rebounds. The duo combined for 18 second-half points.

Lake Superior State (3-3 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) made four three-pointers during the first five minutes of the game and controlled most of the first half. Malone (4-2 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) trimmed a nine-point deficit to six by halftime, trailing 28-22.

The Pioneers overtook LSSU and led by as many as seven points during the second half. The Lakers cut their deficit to 53-52 with 1:58 remaining after back-to-back jumpers by Crishauna Harper and Stephanie Fisher. Snyder and Fisher then traded free throws, leaving Malone with a 56-54 lead with 1:30 to go.

An LSSU miss with 53 seconds remaining led to a Malone three-pointer by Audrey Myers. The back-breaking triple gave the Pioneers a 59-54 lead at the 30-second mark. Fisher hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds to go, but Malone's Rachel Goddard sank her free throws when the Lakers were forced to foul.

Fisher finished with 23 points, and April LaCross added nine to lead Lake Superior State. Alexandra Morrow and Kandace Crittendon led Laker rebounders with five each. LSSU shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 5-of-19 from three-point range, and made 6-of-8 free throws.

Malone shot 40 percent from the field, including 3-of-7 from behind the arc, and made 19-of-27 free throws. The Pioneers held a 33-32 rebounding edge.

LSSU plays host to Walsh at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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