NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The #9 Walsh Cavaliers women's basketball team went back and forth with the Malone Pioneers throughout the first quarter in round three of the rivalry. After the first quarter, it was all Walsh as they advanced to the G-MAC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. 

Walsh improved to 27-2 overall with an 82-47 win over Malone at Alumni Arena on Friday (March 6) night. 

The teams exchanged the lead seven times in the first seven minutes of the game as teams matched each other basket-for-basket. After Malone took a 10-9 lead with 2:58 left in the quarter, Walsh answered with a Mayci Sales jumper. The Cavaliers went on an 11-0 run to end the first quarter, up 20-10. Malone pulled within six points (26-20) of Walsh halfway through the second quarter. The Cavaliers ended the second quarter with a 14-3 rally as they led 40-23 at halftime. Walsh pushed the lead to 27 after three quarters and led by as many as 35 in the fourth period. Walsh was victorious 82-47, sweeping the season series with Malone 3-0. 

Five players reached double-figures for the Cavaliers while ten players entered the scorebook. Sales led all players with 18 points with 17 of them coming in the first half. The First Team All-Conference honoree added five rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Alyssa Dean scored 13 points off the bench with six rebounds and four assists. G-MAC Player of the Year Quionche Carter tallied 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Megan Ball and Tyler Newkirk both scored 11 points. 

The Cavaliers shot over 50% in all four quarters, finishing with a 52.2% field goal percentage. Walsh held Malone to a season-low 47 points and used great defense to shut down Malone's shooting as they ended with a 29.8% shooting percentage and 3-of-21 from three. 

The G-MAC Championship game takes place Saturday at 4:00 PM with the Cavaliers and Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers meeting for the second straight year. Alumni Arena will be the host for the final.

-WC-