Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to tie the game on four different occasions, but could never grab the lead before dropping a 69-64 decision at Indiana (Pa.) in the regular-season finale Saturday evening at the brand new Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

Both teams entered Saturday's contest knowing it would be a preview of Tuesday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal at the Hammermill Center, but also knew the result would have a direct effect on their positioning for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. Gannon is ranked second in the latest regional rankings and 18th in the USA Today ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll. Meanwhile, IUP is tabbed fifth regionally and 24th nationally.

Indiana (Pa.) hit a three-pointer 45 seconds into the contest and never trailed the rest of the way. The Crimson Hawks scored the first seven points and assumed a 10-5 lead, before Gannon recorded its first field goal 7:31 into the game. Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) was the first to hit a field goal, converting a lay-up and a free throw on top of it to draw the Lady Knights within 10-8.

IUP produced a mini 5-0 run late in the half to forge ahead 31-21. Kelley Sundberg's (Mansfield, Conn./E.O. Smith) free throw with nine seconds left stopped the run and left the home team's halftime lead at 31-22. In all, the Lady Knights went 0-of-4 with three turnovers during the final five minutes of the half.

Indiana (Pa.) slowly built its lead after the break and grabbed its biggest lead of the evening at 41-29 with 16:08 remaining. That's when Gannon erupted for its biggest run of the night. The Lady Knights rattled off 13 of the next 14 points to tie the game at 42.

Jen Papich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) ignited the run with a three-pointer. Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) and Brittany Batts (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County) followed with a lay-up and a triple, bringing Gannon within 41-37. After an IUP free throw, Kelsey McCoy (Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Northview) scored on a lay-up and Sebald knotted the game with an old-fashion three-point play at the 13:37 mark. It was the first of four ties over the next three minutes and 47 seconds.

However, Leslie Stapleton drilled a three-pointer to break the final tie and push IUP back in front 52-49. Gannon clawed within a point on two different occasions, but eight consecutive points for the Crimson Hawks seemed to be the decisive series of plays. A Vianca Tejada lay-up gave IUP a 63-54 advantage with 4:34 to play. The Golden Knights were never able to get closer than four points the rest of the way until the final horn sounded with IUP celebrating a 69-64 victory.

Blake led Gannon with 13 points and nine rebounds. Doriyon Glass (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) was the only other Lady Knight in double digits with 11 points.

Gannon shot 40.8 percent (20-49) from the field, 50 percent (6-12) from three-point range and 78.3 percent (18-23) from the free throw line. The Lady Knights shot 51.7 percent (15-29) while rallying in the second half.

Sarah Pastorek headlined the IUP attack with 16 points, hitting 7-of-10 shots. Marita Mathe added 11 points while Tejada grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench.

Indiana (Pa.) shot 43.9 percent (25-57) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-19) from behind the arc and 63.2 percent (12-19) from the charity stripe.

Gannon saw its four-game win streak snapped while dropping to 21-5 overall and 18-4 in the PSAC Western Division. Indiana (Pa.) improved to 21-5 overall and 17-5 in conference action. The same two teams will open postseason play against each other, squaring off in the PSAC Quarterfinals Tuesday, February 28. Game time at the Hammermill Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Season ticket holders can renew their seats for the postseason game Monday, February 27 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion. General admission seats can also be purchased at the same time. Plush seats and chairbacks cost $10. General admission tickets cost $7 for adults and $2 for student and senior citizens. Gannon and IUP students are admitted free of charge by showing a valid school ID at the door.

Any plush seat or chairback not renewed by the end of the day Monday will be available to the general public Tuesday, February 28 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and at the ticket window on game night. Ticket windows will open Tuesday night at 6 p.m.