CLARION, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with an 80-66 win over Clarion in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest.

The Lady Knights led throughout Saturday's win, after scoring 43 points in the first half. Gannon scored 42 points off 33 Clarion turnovers during their second conference win.

Gannon scored the game's first five points with a lay-up from Jennifer Papich (Pittsburg, Pa. / Fox Chapel) and a three from Julie Kleber (Suffern, N.Y. / Suffern). After a bucket from the Golden Eagles, Kleber hit another shot from behind the arc, followed by a bucket from Danielle Tucker, (Rochester, N.Y. / East) to give the Lady Knights an early 10-2 lead.

Gannon used a 9-0 run that lasted three minutes to push the lead to 14 points at the 10:35 mark of the first half. Jessie Tamerlano (North Royalton, Ohio / North Royalton) added four points, while Amanda Dacek (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Berea) nailed a three-pointer.

Gannon led by as many as 16 during the first half, but Clarion rallied during the final minute with a three-pointer from Emma Fickel, followed by a pair of free throws from Raven Jones to cut the Gannon lead to 43-36 at the break.

Kleber had 14 points in the first half after going 4-for-4 on three-point shots. The Lady Knights hit 7-of-10 long range attempts.

The second half started with three scoreless minutes until two buckets from Fickel on back-to-back possessions cut the Gannon lead to three. A Caitlyn Lowe (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) three followed by a bucket from Tucker and another three from Kleber extended Gannon's lead back out to 11 at the 14:49 mark. 

Clarion used a quick 5-0 run to cut the lead to six with just over three minutes to play, but Gannon answered with another three-pointer from Lowe to deflate the Clarion crowd. Lowe added another three one minute later to give the Lady Knights a 13-point lead.

Gannon was 3-of-3 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final three minutes to seal the 80-66 win.

Gannon held an 41-28 advantage in rebounds and dished out 18 assists compared to 12 for Clarion. The Lady Knights hit 11 three-pointers during the game, shooting an impressive 61 percent. Nine different Gannon players scored in the game while eight recorded at least one steal. 

Kleber's 23 points are a new career high for the senior. The Suffern, N.Y., native was 5-of-6 from behind the arc, with three steals, three assists and three rebounds.

Lowe was an efficient 5-of-8 on three-pointers, adding 21 points. The junior guard added two steals and one rebound in the win. Lowe's third three of the game gave her 100 for her career. With 102 for her career, Lowe is just three shy of entering Gannon's all-time top 10 list for career threes. 

Tucker grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, while chipping in nine points. 

Kelley Sundberg (Mansfield, Conn. / E.O. Smith) and Dacek had six and five assists respectively, while splitting time at the point.

Clarion was led by freshman Raven Jones 24 points. Fickel poured in 22 points and Ann Deibert added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Gannon improved to 9-8 with a 2-4 record in conference play. Clarion stands at 4-14 after the loss and holds a 1-5 record in PSAC West action.

The Lady Knights continue on the road against Slippery Rock Wednesday, February 2 for a 6 p.m. game.

For a complete box score from today's Gannon-Clarion women's basketball game, please click here.