Lanise Saunders
Joe Mattis
Redshirt senior Lanise Saunders recorded her first career double-double with career-highs in points and rebounds.
62
Winner Virginia State Univ. VSUW 1-0
51
Gannon University GAN-W 0-1
Winner
Virginia State Univ. VSUW
1-0
62
Final
51
Gannon University GAN-W
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Virginia State Univ. VSUW 16 19 12 15 62
Gannon University GAN-W 11 9 15 16 51

Next Game:

at The Lincoln University

11/12/2016 | 6:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Nov. 12 (Sat) / 6:00 PM
at The Lincoln University

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Women's Basketball Team Drops Season Opener Against CIAA Member Virginia State

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Virginia State 62, Gannon 51
  • Records: Gannon (0-1), Virginia State (1-0)
  • Location: Lincoln University, Pa. - Manuel Rivero Hall
  • The Short Story: Redshirt senior Lanise Saunders (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) recorded her first career double-double and Gannon out-scored Virginia State 31-27 in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Knights dropped a 62-51 decision Friday night in the season opener at the CIAA/PSAC Challenge hosted by Lincoln (Pa.) University.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Sophomore Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) scored the first points of the season with a three-pointer from the top of the key 62 seconds into the contest for a 3-0 lead.
  • Virginia State countered with nine consecutive points to assume a 9-3 advantage midway through the first quarter.
  • Back-to-back lay-ups from Saunders cut the deficit to 13-11 with less than one minute to play, but Virginia State nailed a three-pointer with two seconds left to push the Trojans into the second quarter with a five-point lead.
  • The triple ignited an 8-0 run that pushed the VSU lead to 21-11 early in the second frame.
  • The Trojans' lead ballooned to 35-17 with 2:32 left in the first half after a 12-0 blitz.
  • A pair of free throws by sophomore Kelsey Herbert (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) and a freebie by sophomore Maggie Mitchell (Newark, Ohio/Newark) drew Gannon within 35-20 at the intermission.
  • After allowing the opening bucket of the second half, Gannon rattled off seven consecutive points. Saunders converted back-to-back lay-ups, before three free throws cut the deficit to 37-27 midway through the third quarter.
  • The Lady Knights cut the deficit to nine points on two occasions during the final five minutes of the third quarter, but Virginia State held onto to a 47-35 lead after three stanzas.
  • Gannon made one last run with a mini 6-0 run in the final minutes. Baskets by freshman Marissa Siebka (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock), LaCava and Saunders sliced the difference to 54-47 with 69 seconds left.
  • However, Virginia State iced the victory with six free throws and a field goal during the final 66 seconds to secure a 62-51 victory.

GAME NOTES
  • Friday's game represented the season opener for both teams.
  • Saunders recorded her first career double-double during her first career start with 15 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes, hitting 7-of-10 field goals.
  • Mitchell was the only other Lady Knight in double digits with 11 markers during her Gannon debut.
  • Gannon shot 44.2 percent (19-43) from the field, 20 percent (2-10) from three-point range and 73.3 percent (11-15) from the free throw line.
  • Virginia State's Nandi Taylor led all scorers on both sides with 28 points, converting 11-of-20 field goal attempts. She was the only Trojan in double digits.
  • VSU shot 35.1 percent (20-57) from the floor, 29.2 percent (7-24) from behind the arc and 55.6 percent (15-27) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon won the rebounding battle 39-31, but committed 28 turnovers that led to a 26-10 disadvantage in points off turnovers.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Saunders recorded career-highs in points and rebounds. Her previous career-high in scoring was 10 points accomplished three times while her previous career-high in rebounds was eight performed twice.
  • Gannon had a student-athlete record a double-double during the season opener for the fifth consecutive season.
  • The Lady Knights opened the season away from the Hammermill Center for only the 18th time in 43 seasons, falling to 7-3 in season openers on neutral floors.
  • Friday's decision snapped an eight-game winning streak in season openers. The last setback on opening day came via a 71-68 loss to West Liberty in 2007-08.
  • Gannon and Virginia State met on the women's basketball floor for the first time ever.
  • Seven of the 11 Lady Knights who saw playing time were making their Gannon debut, including five true freshmen.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes action at the CIAA/PSAC Challenge Saturday, November 12 by battling the host school Lincoln (Pa.).
  • Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
  • A live video webstream will be available at http://lulions.com/sports/2014/9/6/GEN_0906142618.aspx.
  • Gannon and Lincoln (Pa.) have only met one previous time when the Lady Knights posted a 74-62 victory last season at the Carol Eckman Tournament hosted by West Chester.
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Players Mentioned

Kelsey Herbert

#25 Kelsey Herbert

C
6' 1"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Physician Assistant
Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

F
6' 0"
Sophomore
Physician Assistant
Lanise Saunders

#54 Lanise Saunders

C
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Electrical Engineering
Maggie Mitchell

#10 Maggie Mitchell

G
5' 7"
Junior
Sport and Exercise Science
Marissa Siebka

#11 Marissa Siebka

G
5' 10"
Freshman
Elementary Education

Players Mentioned

Kelsey Herbert

#25 Kelsey Herbert

6' 1"
Sophomore
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Physician Assistant
C
Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

6' 0"
Sophomore
Physician Assistant
F
Lanise Saunders

#54 Lanise Saunders

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Electrical Engineering
C
Maggie Mitchell

#10 Maggie Mitchell

5' 7"
Junior
Sport and Exercise Science
G
Marissa Siebka

#11 Marissa Siebka

5' 10"
Freshman
Elementary Education
G