ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team will host California (Pa.) Saturday Night at the Hammermill Center in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division match-up. The game can be heard locally on 90.5 WERG.
Ticket windows for Saturday's PSAC doubleheader open at 4:30 p.m. with the women's game to tip off at 5:30 p.m. The men's contest follows at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for non-Gannon students and senior citizens. All Gannon students are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID at the front door.
The Lady Knights took control of second place in the PSAC West earlier this week with a 71-30 win over #17 Indiana (Pa.). In a game that Gannon never trailed the Lady Knights shot 43.9 percent from the floor against an IUP team that entered the contest limiting opponents to 33.6 percent.
Caitlyn Lowe (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) poured in a game-high 18 points while
Jen Papich (Pittsburg, Pa. / Fox Chapel) added 16.
The playoff picture in the West is starting to take form with Edinboro already clinching a playoff spot with their win on Wednesday over California (Pa.). The Lady Knights could secure a return to the playoffs with a win on Saturday combined with a Mercyhurst loss to Slippery Rock. Seven games remain in conference play this season.
Gannon has relied on a team effort this season with nine Lady Knights averaging at least 17 minutes of action. All nine players are contributing more than five points per game.
Kelsey McCoy (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) is leading scorer off the bench with 5.8 points per game. The Gannon bench has out-scored opponents 14 times this season, resulting in a 13-1 record. Under Wright, the Lady Knights are 138-32 all-time in games where Gannon's bench out-scores the opponents.
California (Pa.) is led by Amy Johns, who is averaging 18.4 points per game. An all-PSAC first team selection last season, Johns ranks second in the PSAC and 21st nationally in scoring. Danielle Luckett also nets double-digits, averaging 11.6 points per game.
The Vulcans hold an edge in the all-time series with a 13-11 record against Gannon. The Lady Knights dropped the first meeting this season by a 72-63 score.
