Video Highlights & Interviews

THE BASICS
Score: at Gannon 66, Kutztown 58
Records: Gannon (9-4, 8-2 PSAC), Kutztown (5-8, 4-6 PSAC)
Location: Erie, Pa.  |  Hammermill Center
The Short Story: The Gannon women's basketball team closed Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action with a 66-58 win over Kutztown Wednesday evening at the Hammermill Center. The victory marked the Lady Knights' sixth consecutive win at home this season. Senior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist), senior Candice Hendricks (Randallstown, Md./McDonogh) and junior Jennie Thies (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern) each scored 10 points to lead the Lady Knights.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Falling behind Kutztown by the score of 9-4 just eight minutes into the contest, Gannon strung together five straight points to knot the game at nine all on a three by junior Morgan Neighbors (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South).
- Two teams remained scoreless for the next two minutes before the Golden Bears moved back ahead on a jumper at the 7:23 mark.
- After tying twice in the next two minutes, the Lady Knights secured their first lead with 5:07 left in the opening half. Back-to-back layups from Hendricks tied the game and put the Lady Knights ahead 15-13. Hendricks led the Lady Knights with eight points in the first half.
- Starting with 4:01 left, the Lady Knights closed the half on a 9-3 run to take a 26-18 lead into the break.
- Despite leading by 10 points to open the second stanza following a jumper from junior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./ Mercyhurst Prep), the Lady Knights watched their advantage dissolve. The Golden Bears pulled to within one of the Lady Knights, 36-35, off a three from Natalya Lee with 12 minutes left.
- A visit to the foul line by Lee tied the game for the fourth time, while her second attempt put the Golden Bears in the lead, 39-38.
- In the final 10 minutes, the Golden Bears managed to wrestle the lead away from the Lady Knights twice. However, they were never able to take more than a one-point lead. Freshman McKenna Shives (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) dropped in a long-range basket to hand the Lady Knights a 52-50 lead with 4:29 remaining, which would hold for the rest of the contest.
 
GAME NOTES
- For the second straight game, three Lady Knights finished with double-figure scoring. In addition, the Golden Bears also tallied double-figures.
- Blake, Hendricks and Thies each scored 10 points to lead the Lady Knights. The Golden Bears were led by Advia Campbell with 14 points and nine rebounds.
- Blake led the team with nine rebounds followed by Thies with eight.
- The Lady Knights finished with five blocks including two from Blake.
At the boards, the Golden Bears held a 42-41 advantage.
- The Lady Knights connected on 41.7-percent (25-60) of their attempts from the field. The Golden Bears finished the day at 33.8-percent from the floor after opening at 26.7-percent (8-30).
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gannon improved to 6-2 against Kutztown in the all-time series. The Lady Knights have defeated the Golden Bears in six straight games. All of the victories have come since the Lady Knights joined the PSAC in the 2008-09 regular season. At the Hammermill Center, GU improved to 4-1 against the Golden Bears.
- The Golden Bears entered the game ranked first among PSAC leaders in rebounds per game.   
- At the Hammermill Center, the Lady Knights have won 45 of their last 48 games.
- The Lady Knights moved to 37-3 in PSAC-crossover action against Eastern Division opponents in the regular season. At home, the Lady Knights improved to 19-1 in the crossover play.
 
UP NEXT
Remaining home at the Hammermill Center, Gannon returns to PSAC Western Division action against rival Edinboro Jan. 10. The game is set to tipoff at 5:30 p.m.