Coach Brunelli's Weekly Radio Show

THE GAME BASICS
Matchup: Gannon (15-6, 14-4 PSAC) at Clarion (2-20, 1-16 PSAC)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Tippin Gymnasium | Clarion, Pa.
Short Story: Dropping consecutive games in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action for the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Gannon women's basketball team will look to snap its two-game skid with a trip to Clarion Wednesday evening at the Tippin Gymnasium. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. Winning 15 consecutive matchups, the Lady Knights remain unbeaten against the Golden Eagles since joining the conference in the 2008-09 season. For both GU head coach Jim Brunelli and assistant coach Mike Whitling it marks a return to their alma mater.
 
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SCOUTING CLARION
- After snapping a 15-game losing streak with a 75-67 win over Pitt-Johnstown Jan. 28, Clarion has dropped its last two games to post a 2-20 overall mark. The Golden Eagles occupy last place in the PSAC Western Division with a 1-16 mark in conference action.
- Both of Clarion's two wins this season have come on home court at the Tippin Gymnasium.
- Among PSAC team leaders, Clarion ranks last in scoring offense (56.4) and 15th in scoring defense (70.5). The Golden Eagles are being outscored by an average margin of 14.1 points, which ranks 16th in the league.
- The Golden Eagles are missing All-PSAC selection Hannah Heeter, who has been out of the lineup since Dec. 16. Before her injury, Heeter was averaging 14.1 points and 11.6 rebounds.
- With Heeter missing from the lineup, the duo of Tania Holmes and Delrika Jones-Carey now lead the Golden Eagles' offense. Holmes is averaging 15.6 points per game to tie for fifth among the PSAC's leading scorers. She is also posting 4.9 rebounds per game. Jones-Carey is averaging 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, which places her 10th in league. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
- Gannon holds a 32-14 lead in the all-time series against Clarion. The Lady Knights have won 15 consecutive games against the Golden Eagles, including 13 games by 14 points or more. During the win streak, the Lady Knights have outscored the Golden Eagles a margin of 19.9 points.
- Gannon has captured seven straight on the road against Clarion at the Tippin Gymnasium to secure a 12-8 all-time mark.
- Since joining the PSAC in 2008-09, the Lady Knights remain unbeaten against the Golden Eagles as conference opponents, sweeping all six previous regular-season series.
- Earlier in the season, then-No. 25 Gannon relied on a team effort with 10 of 12 Lady Knights contributing in a 72-45 win over Clarion Dec. 3, at the Hammermill Center. The lead never changed hands in the contest.
 
GANNON FAST BREAK POINTS
- Gannon currently occupies third place in the PSAC Western Division with a 14-4 mark in league play and a 15-6 overall record.
- Among the PSAC leaders, Gannon ranks eighth in scoring offense (67.6) and sixth in scoring defense (61.7). On the glass, the Lady Knights occupy second in rebounding defense (35.4) and sixth in rebounding offense (42.0) for a second-ranked rebounding margin of 6.6.
- The Lady Knights rank second in the PSAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.04), while recording the lowest-total turnovers (303).
- In the conference, junior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep)  ranks second in assist/turnover ratio (2.6) and third in assists per game (4.5). Berchtold entered the week ranked seventh in assist/turnover ratio among national leaders.
- Among PSAC rebounding leaders, senior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) ranks first in both rebounds per game (11.4) and total rebounds (240). In the conference, she is first in both offensive rebounds (92) and offensive boards per game (4.4). Entering this week in the national rankings, the senior ranks 11th in offensive rebounds per game and 17th in rebounds per game.
- Four of the Lady Knights' five final regular-season games will come against Western Division opponents. 
- Dating back to the 2011-12 season, Gannon has won 48 of their last 52 games at the Hammermill Center.
- For the third straight season, the Lady Knights opened a campaign with nine consecutive home victories.
 
LOOKING BACK
Gannon fell to No. 5 Indiana (Pa.), 74-53, at the Hammermill Center Feb. 7. It marked consecutive losses in PSAC Western Division action for the Lady Knights. The loss was the Maroon and Gold's first at home this season after winning nine straight. Junior Morgan Neighbors (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) led the Lady Knights' scoring in back-to-back games with 10 points followed by freshman McKenna Shives (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers) with nine points.
 
NEXT UP
The Lady Knights will host PSAC Western Division opponent Pitt-Johnstown Feb. 14, at the Hammermill Center in the annual Hall of Fame game. Among those to be honored is former Lady Knight Kelly Moyer '92, '98M, who graduated as a four-year letterwinner in basketball and softball. Entering this week, Pitt-Johnstown has dropped seven straight games, all in conference action. The Lady Cats currently occupy sixth place in the PSAC Western Division. Despite owning the conference's highest-scoring offense (77.9), UPJ allows the most points (80.8). 
 
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.
 
D2SIDA REGIONAL RANKINGS
Gannon dropped into a tie for sixth place in the latest Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Atlantic Region Media Poll released Monday. The Lady Knights are joined by West Chester in the sixth spot. Winners of five straight games, California (Pa.) (19-3) captured the top spot in the regional media poll along with two first-place votes. Receiving the other first-place vote, Livingstone (N.C.) (21-0) moved into a tie with Bloomsburg (19-2) for the second spot. Ranked fifth in the nation, Indiana (Pa.) (19-2) fell to fourth place. Fairmont State (W.Va.) (19-4) completed the top five. Falling out of the top five, Gannon (15-6) shares sixth place with West Chester (18-4). Edinboro (16-6), Charleston (W.Va.) (18-5) and West Liberty (W.Va.) (16-7) rounded out the top 10.
 
RECORD CHASER
Blake 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 third in both most rebounds (958) and most free throw attempts (541), fourth in most free throws made (343), eighth in most points (1,435), ninth in most field goals made (546), tied for ninth in blocked shots (82) and 10th in field goal percentage (.507). Averaging 8.1 rebounds per game in her career, she ranks fifth on the program's all-time list. Appearing in 118 games as a Lady Knight, she is 10th on the career list.
 
FROM OUTSIDE
Senior Brittany Batts (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County) occupies second at Gannon with 271 career three-pointers. Batts needs 29 to break Jacki Windon's school record of 299. In an 82-43 win over Cheyney Dec. 20, she became the 26th Lady Knight in school history to record 1,000-career points. So far, she has compiled 1,075 career points to occupy 21st on the program's all-time list. Appearing in 117 games as a Lady Knight, the senior is tied for 11th on the all-time list.