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ERIE, Pa. - The No. 5 Gannon women's basketball team coasted to a 73-33 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division opponent Clarion on Wednesday evening at the Hammermill Center. The Lady Knights dominated from start to finish in the regular-season home finale, eventually holding the Golden Eagles scoreless in the final 6:37 of the contest. With back-to-back wins, the Lady Knights improve to 24-2 overall and 13-2 in the division. The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 10-14 on the season and 4-10 in divisional play.

In addition to the final regular-season home contest, the game marked Senior Night for Jen Papich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel), Kelley Sundberg (Mansfield, Conn./E.O. Smith) and Doriyon Glass (Boardman,Ohio/Boardman). The trio was sent off with the Lady Knights' widest margin of victory this season, a 40-point win over the Golden Eagles.  

Juniors Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) and Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) shared the team lead with 13 points each. Blake has reached double figures in 11 consecutive games, which started on Jan. 11 at Clarion. Junior Brittany Batts (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County) buried four threes to finish the day with 12 points. Sundberg registered nine assists along with eight points and three rebounds. Papich tallied nine points, while recording four boards, three steals and two assists.

For the third straight half, the Lady Knights shot above 50 percent. To open the contest, the Lady Knights matched their 55.6 performance from the field (15-27) with their output from long range (5-9). The Lady Knights finished the contest with a 43.9 field-goal percentage (29-66). In three-point field goals, the Lady Knights shot 33.3 percent (7-21). At the foul line, the Lady Knights hit 50 percent (8-16).

Each Golden Eagle was held to single digits including leading scorer Hannah Heeter, who registered nine straight double-doubles entering the contest. Heeter was held to five points and eight rebounds, while being forced into six turnovers. The Golden Eagles were led by Emma Fickel with eight points including a pair of threes.

To open the game, the Golden Eagles shot 29.2 from the field (7-24) only to drop to 17.9 percent (5-28) in the second half for 23.1 percentage (12-52) in the game. Among the 15 shots from beyond the arc, the Golden Eagles only hit three attempts. From the charity stripe, the Golden Eagles shot 46.2 percent (6-13).

Only 18 seconds into the contest, Batts buried a shot from five feet behind the arc. With Clarion striking back with a jumper, Sundberg pulled back and let her long-range shot fly for a 6-2 Lady Knights' lead. Following a missed Clarion jumper, Batts struck again for a 9-2 Lady Knights' lead with 17:59 left.

Papich gave the Lady Knights their first double-digit lead of the half, 21-11, with a jumper following a Heeter turnover. The Golden Eagles pulled within seven of the Lady Knights following a GU foul on Tania Holmes, who was put at the line for three shots.

Sebald established the Lady Knights' lead back to double digits with a jumper and layup for a 28-16 advantage with 9:17 remaining. Following a layup by Fickel with 7:37 left, only two points were scored in the next 4:13. In the final 7:44 of the half, Gannon was held scoreless until freshman Brianna Brennan (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven) stroked a three with seven seconds left, handing the Lady Knights a 37-21 lead at the break.

Sebald wasted no time to open the second half, nailing a three only 24 seconds in for a 40-21 Gannon lead. Starting with Sebald, the Lady Knights went on a 17-0 run in the opening 7:05 of the second half. The Golden Eagles went 0-for-8 from the field, while tallying seven turnovers during the Lady Knights' run.

The Lady Knights held the Golden Eagles scoreless in the final 6:37 of the contest. The Lady Knights scored nine unanswered points in the remaining time to capture the 73-33 win over the Golden Eagles.

On the glass, the Lady Knights held a 53-34 lead over the Golden Eagles. The Lady Knights' tied their second highest total this season after pulling down 53 at Glenville State on Nov. 16. Saunders and Brennan each tied for a team-high eight rebounds with Saunders registering a career game-high. Sophomore Marisa Guyton (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) also set a career game-high with four rebounds.

In the turnover battle, the Golden Eagles recorded 25 leading to 21 points for the Lady Knights. The Golden Eagles only managed to turn the Lady Knights' 17 turnovers into four points. With 14 steals, the Lady Knights tied a season-high set at West Chester on Jan. 4.

Gannon concludes the regular season at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Lady Knights improve to 31-14 in the all-time series, winning 14 consecutive games… Since joining the PSAC in 2008-09 season, the Lady Knights remain undefeated against the Golden Eagles at 12-0, accomplishing a sweep of the Golden Eagles in all six series… The Lady Knights have won 27 of their last 28 games at the Hammermill Center… Versus the Golden Eagles at the Hammermill Center, the Lady Knights hold a 15-6 record, winning seven straight… Allowing just 12 points in the second half, the Lady Knights set a season best in fewest points allowed in a half… The win marked the Lady Knights' 17th double-digit win this season and 11th victory by 20 or more points.