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EDINBORO, Pa. - In a game featuring 12 lead changes and seven tied scores, it would take overtime to decide the top spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division, as the No. 2 Gannon women's basketball team fell to Edinboro, 75-72, at the McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Knights move to 17-1 on the season and 6-1 in the West Division, while the Fighting Scots improved to 12-3 overall and 6-0 in divisional play.
Entering the game, the two teams were unbeaten in West Division play, which would decide sole possession of first place. Both teams entered on winning streaks, the Fighting Scots held a six-game streak and the Lady Knights strung together 17 straight. Needless to say, extra time was needed to settle the clash among the conference's top West Division teams.
Leading the Lady Knights for the second straight game, junior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) recorded her 17th career double-double and sixth of the season off 21 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Jen Papich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) followed with 16 points and six boards. Senior Kelley Sundberg (Mansfield, Conn./E.O. Smith) led the Lady Knights with 40 minutes of play, recording eight points, three rebounds and four assists. The Lady Knights hit 43.9 percent (25-57) from the field after opening the game shooting 54.5 percent (12-22). From the long range, the Lady Knights shot 36.8 percent (7-19). The Lady Knights performed well at the foul line going 15-17 for 88.2 percent.
Four Fighting Scots reached double digits. Leading the Fighting Scots was Darche Jackson with 22 points followed by Laurel Lindsay with 15 points and Valerie Majewski and Lauren Hippo with 10 points each. The Fighting Scots shot a strong 54.7 percent (29-53) from the field including 53.8 percent (7-13) from a distance. The Fighting Scots' reserves held a 19-15 edge over the Lady Knights' bench.
Ending the second half on a 12-6 run to take a 33-30 lead into the break, the Lady Knights managed to hold the lead throughout the second half until Edinboro took their first lead of the second half, 60-59, at the five minute mark off a high-arching three from Jackson. Following an Edinboro foul, junior Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) hit back-to-back free throws to put the Lady Knights ahead 61-60 with 4:42 left.
For the next 2:40, neither team was able to connect despite two long-range attempts by the Fighting Scots' Majewski. Three straight fouls finally put Jackson at the line for Edinboro with the senior hitting both free throws for a 62-61 lead with 2:02 left.
Papich and Jackson exchanged jumpers with Edinboro holding the lead at 64-63 with 1:21 left on the clock. In the final minute, an Edinboro foul put Blake at the line with the junior hitting her second shot to tie the game at 64-64. A turnover by Lindsay gave the Lady Knights the ball in the final 26 seconds off a Papich steal with Sundberg's final heave for the win just missing, sending the game into overtime.
Papich struck first in the extra period with a layup followed by a successful visit to the line by Blake to give the Lady Knights a 68-64 lead with 3:21 remaining. Jackson went on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 68, marking the game's seventh tied score.
Blake gave the Lady Knights the lead once again before Majewski nailed a three-pointer to put Edinboro ahead 71-70 with 1:06 left on the clock. Papich answered with an inside drive for a 72-71 Lady Knights' lead before Lindsay hit a layup to put the Fighting Scots back in the lead, 73-72, with 25 seconds left. The Fighting Scots sealed the upset with Majewski at the line for a 75-72 win over second-ranked Gannon.
The Lady Knights suffered 22 turnovers, tying their highest amount this season set against California (Pa.) on Nov. 20. The Fighting Scots converted the 22 GU turnovers into 26 points.
The boards were dominated by the Lady Knights, who held a 38-23 advantage, the team's second highest margin this season. Blake recorded double figures on the glass for the seventh game this year. Only one Fighting Scot recorded more than three boards, Majewski with six.
Gannon returns to the Hammermill Center on Wednesday, Jan. 22, when the Lady Knights host Pitt-Johnstown with a 5:30 tip as part of a PSAC doubleheader.
GAME NOTES: The Lady Knights win streak came to an end at 17, marking the team's best start since the 2009-10 season… In the all-time series, Edinboro holds a 28-19 lead… The Lady Knights were one of 20 women's basketball teams at the three NCAA levels that were undefeated heading into the game… Blake moved into eighth on the program's career rebounding list with 623… Saturday's game was the first overtime game for the Lady Knights since Dec. 18, 2012 against Millersville.
