ERIE, Pa. - The seventh-ranked Gannon women's basketball team continues its quest for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship Friday, March 8 against Millersville during the PSAC Semifinals hosted by Bloomsburg at the Nelson Field House. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. It can be heard live locally on 90.5 WERG
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Gannon (27-3, 20-2) entered the postseason as the PSAC Western Division's top seed, winning its first regular-season title since the 2009-10 campaign. The Lady Knights easily disposed of California (Pa.) 77-50 Tuesday night in the conference quarterfinals at the Hammermill Center. Sophomore
Nettie Blake fell one point shy of her career-high with 20 points and nine rebounds. Junior
Jen Papich recorded her fifth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Junior
Kelley Sundberg dished out 11 assists to go along with nine points. She has 23 assists compared to only three turnovers during 56 minutes at point guard the last two games.
Head coach
Cleve Wright's club was tabbed No. 1 in the March 5 NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings. The top-ranked team after the PSAC Tournament will host the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional March 15-18. Gannon last hosted the regional in 2010 en route to an NCAA Division II Final Four appearance. The NCAA Division II Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, March 10 at 10 p.m. Nationally, Gannon is ranked seventh in the latest
USA Today Sports Division II Coaches' Poll, being nationally-ranked for the 25th consecutive poll dating back to last season.
Gannon's 27 victories are the second-most in school history. Only the 2009-10 national semifinalist team recorded more with a 37-1 record. The Lady Knights have won 25 games for the fourth time during the last seven seasons. The program is 166-47 during the last seven years, equaling a 78.0 winning percentage. Gannon is 79-31 during the months of February and March under Wright.
The PSAC honored several members of the Gannon women's basketball team Thursday morning. Wright was named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year for the second time during the last four seasons. Papich took home the PSAC West Athlete of the Year honor, as well as being named to the All-PSAC West first team. Blake, Sundberg and
Brittany Batts earned spots on the all-conference second team.
Millersville (21-7, 16-6) advanced to the PSAC semifinals with a 42-31 home victory against East Stroudsburg and a 62-42 win at Shippensburg. Aurielle Mosley was named PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Year Thursday. The senior forward has 14 double-doubles this season. She ranks fifth all-time at Millersville with 1,414 career points.
Gannon has won four consecutive games against Millersville and leads the all-time series 5-2. The Lady Knights are perfect on both teams' home floor, but are only 1-2 against the Marauders on a neutral floor. Millersville has not defeated Gannon since the 1993-94 campaign. The Lady Knights handed the Marauders their first loss this season with a 78-76 overtime victory on December 18.
