CANTON, Ohio -- Point Park University women's basketball lost at NCAA Division II Malone (Ohio) University on Wednesday afternoon, 75-63. 

Malone (2-3) put together runs at the start of the third and fourth quarters to provide a difference. Point Park is now 4-2 heading into the start of River States Conference play next Tuesday at No. 7-ranked Rio Grande (Ohio).

Gillian Piccolino led three Point Park starters in double figures with 16 points and four assists. Ari Bleda put up 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Gabriella Legister joined with a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards.

Coral Homs got her first start of the year in a regular-season game and turned in seven points and 10 rebounds. Aichata Ballo also started for the first non-exhibition game registering eight points. 

Erin Kaufman had a strong game of 24 points and 10 boards for Malone. That effort came off the bench with 11 for 14 shooting. Aila Miller added 15 points and eight boards on 7 for 10 from the floor while Brooklyn Turner scored 12 points with a couple of made 3-pointers. 

Point Park was down, 14-10, after the first quarter. The Pioneers opened up shooting just 4 for 13 the first 10 minutes. The Pioneers started to hit some shots in the second quarter outscoring Malone, 19-18,  in the frame and shooting 9 for 15 in the period. 

Piccolino started the second-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer to get the Pioneers going. Alexis Giles later nailed a jumper to cap off a 7-0 run and knot the score at 27-27. Then Legister scored inside to pull the Pioneers within a point late in the half. It was a three-point game at the half with Malone up, 32-29.

Malone started the second half on a 15-5 run to stretch out a close game to 47-34 midway through the third quarter. Point Park was able to get within nine points at 54-45 after three. That was with Bleda hitting a 3-pointer and a transition layup, Piccolino putting back a missed shot and Legister scoring from the block in the final seconds of the period. 

Malone then had another run of 8-2 to start the fourth quarter. That made the score 62-47 with 7:23 to go. 

Team stats were fairly even with Malone shooting 40 percent and Point Park 38 percent. Malone did shoot over 50 percent in the third quarter to build the lead. Malone led in rebounds, 46-42, and won the turnover battle with 15 committed and 17 forced.