ERIE, Pa. – The No. 25 Gannon women's basketball team returns to the Hammermill Center Wednesday evening when the team hosts Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opponent Clarion at 5:30 p.m. For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Lady Knights dropped consecutive losses after falling to Ashland, 80-73, and Grand Valley State, 95-72, in a non-conference road swing. Led by first-year head coach Jana Ashley, Clarion is in search of its first conference win of the season.

THE GAME BASICS
Home: No. 25 Gannon (3-2, 2-0 PSAC)
Away: Clarion (1-4, 0-1 PSAC)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hammermill Center | Erie, Pa.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Live Stats
Live Video
Live Audio
On The Air: WERG 90.5 FM

GAME INFORMATION
Coach Brunelli's Weekly Radio Show
Game Notes
Game Program
Buy Tickets

GET YOUR TICKETS
Ticket windows will open at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday's contests will be part of PSAC-crossover doubleheaders that begin with the women's teams at 5:30 p.m. A ticket for the doubleheader costs $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. Tickets can also now be purchased in advance online at www.gusportstickets.com. 

SCOUTING CLARION
- Holding a 1-4 overall record, Clarion has been outscored on average by nine points, but have managed to shoot 40.6 from the floor for the season.
- In recent action, the Golden Eagles fell to Walsh (Ohio), 93-68, in non-conference action Nov. 25. Leading the Golden Eagles were Tania Holmes with a team-best 21 points followed by Hannah Heeter, who secured her fourth consecutive double-double with 10 points matched by 10 rebounds.
- Leading the Golden Eagles' offense are Holmes and  Heeter. Holmes is averaging 16.4 points per game and 3.2 rebounds, while Heeter is recording 15.8 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game.
- First-year head coach Jana Ashley joins the Golden Eagles after spending the previous 11 seasons at the Division-I level with her last stop at Iona. Ashley replaces long-time head coach Gie Parsons, who spent the past 25 seasons at Clarion.
 
SERIES HISTORY
- Gannon holds a 31-14 lead in the all-time series against Clarion. Winning 14 consecutive games against the Golden Eagles, including 12 games by 14 points or more, the Lady Knights have outscored them by a margin of 19.4 points.
- The Lady Knights have captured seven straight at the Hammermill Center to secure a 15-6 all-time mark against the Golden Eagles at home.
- Since joining the PSAC in 2008-09, the Lady Knights have yet to surrender a loss to the Golden Eagles.
 
LOOKING BACK
The No. 5 Gannon women's basketball team was unable to overcome a 22-point first half deficit, as the Lady Knights fell to host Grand Valley State, 95-72, Nov. 29, at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The loss marked the second straight for the Lady Knights despite registering their best shooting-performance of the season. The teams combined for 26 three-pointers with each squad connecting on 13 attempts. Both squads shot above 40-percent from the field in the game with the undefeated Lakers shooting 60-percent. Four Lady Knights finished with double-digit scoring, as the team was led by senior Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) with 15 points.
 
NEXT UP
The Lady Knights will travel to Indiana (Pa.) Dec. 6, as the team continues PSAC action. The tip is set for 7 p.m. In the all-time series, the Lady Knights have won five straight against the Crimson Hawks including a pair of regular-season sweeps and a 64-46 victory in the 2013 NCAA Atlantic Regional semifinals. The Crimson Hawks are currently one of 38 undefeated teams in NCAA Division II at 5-0 on the season and a 1-0 mark in PSAC action with a win over Seton Hill. In exhibition action, the Crimson Hawks lost by single digits to Penn State, 75-71, and Pittsburgh, 69-61. Prior to meeting Gannon, Indiana (Pa.) will host Mercyhurst Dec. 3. The Crimson Hawks are led by Lindsay Stamp, who is averaging 22.8 points per game to rank first in the PSAC and 14th in the nation. Shooting 60.4-percent from the field, Ashley Stoner also leads the PSAC and ranks 23rd nationally.
 
TIME FOR A REUNION
Head coach Jim Brunelli and assistant coach Mike Whitling each started their started their coaching careers with long-time Clarion head coach Gie Parsons, who recently retired from her post. Brunelli began his coaching career with the Golden Eagles, as a graduate assistant from 1998-2000. Brunelli also obtained his bachelor's degree from Clarion in 1996, playing for the Golden Eagles in 1993-94. Whitling also received his start in the coaching ranks at Clarion, serving as a graduate assistant from 2005-08.
 
THE STREAK CONTINUES
No. 25 Gannon has been nationally ranked in 45 consecutive USA Today Sports Division II Coaches' Polls dating back to the 2011-12 campaign and has received votes in the national poll at some point during each of the last eight seasons. The Lady Knights opened the 2014-15 season ranked 13th in the USA Today Sports Division II Preseason Top-25 Poll.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
Dating back to the 2011-12 season, the Lady Knights have won 41 of their past 44 at the Hammermill Center, posting a .932 winning percentage. In 41 years at the Hammermill Center, the Lady Knights have posted a record of 358-147 for a winning percentage of .705. The team has captured a victory in seven-consecutive season openers and six-straight home openers at the 'Mill.
 
RECORD CHASER
Senior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) continues to climb her way up the program's all-time list in multiple categories. Among all-time career leaders in program history, Blake ranks sixth in most rebounds (782) and eighth in most free throws made (284). She continues to move up multiple other career lists, compiling 1,204 points, 64 blocked shots and 460 field goals made. She has recorded double figures in rebounds the last five games dating back to last season.
 
D2SIDA REGIONAL RANKINGS
Gannon is tied for fourth along with fellow PSCA opponent Bloomsburg in the latest Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Atlantic Region Media Poll released Dec. 1. West Liberty (W.Va.) (3-1) and West Chester (5-0) share the top spot in the region. West Liberty (W.Va.) was previously ranked second, while West Chester jumped up from fifth. California (Pa.) (4-1) slid back one spot to third in this week's poll. Sharing fourth place were Bloomsburg (4-1) and Gannon (3-2), who was previously ranked as the top team in the region a week previously.
 
… AND FOR THE D2SIDA NATIONAL RANKINGS
Beyond the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll, the Lady Knights are receiving votes in the latest D2SIDA National Media Poll released Dec. 2. The Lady Knights were previously ranked third in the poll.
 
FAST BREAK POINTS
- Blake ranks sixth all-time at Gannon in rebounds (782) and 14th in career points (1,204).
- Senior Brittany Batts (Leesburg, Va. / Loudoun County) occupies third all-time at Gannon with 249 career three-pointers. She needs 51 to break Jacki Windon's school record of 299. Batts only needs 32 points to reach 1,000-career points.