LaShawna Gatewood
Joe Mattis
Senior LaShawna Gatewood recorded a career-high 10 points and four rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench.
84
Winner Gannon University GAN-W 15-7, 13-5 PSAC
54
Pitt-Johnstown UPJW 7-16, 4-13 PSAC
Winner
Gannon University GAN-W
15-7, 13-5 PSAC
84
Final
54
Pitt-Johnstown UPJW
7-16, 4-13 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gannon University GAN-W 26 17 21 20 84
Pitt-Johnstown UPJW 8 18 13 15 54

Next Game:

at Seton Hill University (Pa.)

2/10/2016 | 5:30 PM

Jet Radio 1400

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 10 (Wed) / 5:30 PM
at Seton Hill University (Pa.)

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

Gannon Women's Basketball Team Rolls at Pitt-Johnstown 84-54; Clinches 18th Postseason Appearance in Last 19 Years

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Gannon 84, at Pitt-Johnstown 54
  • Records: Gannon (15-7, 13-5 PSAC), Pitt-Johnstown (7-16, 4-13 PSAC)
  • Location: Johnstown, Pa. - Sports Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon women's basketball team used a dominating 26-8 first quarter and senior Jennie Thies' (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern) fifth consecutive double-double to clinch its fourth straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament spot Saturday afternoon with an 84-54 victory at Pitt-Johnstown. It marks the program's 18th postseason appearance in the last 19 years.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon started the game on fire, scoring 15 of the first 18 points during the opening 4:29 of the contest. Four different Lady Knights scored during the opening run that was capped by three consecutive three-pointers by sophomore McKenna Shives (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers).
  • Leading 18-8, Gannon ripped off eight consecutive points to assume a 26-8 lead with 40 seconds left in the first quarter. The balanced scoring continued with four different Lady Knights contributing two points each. A pair of free throws from freshman Lauren Tewes (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Kettering) capped the first-quarter scoring as Gannon went to the second frame with an 18-point lead.
  • Gannon pushed its lead past the 20-point plateau with a mini 6-0 run midway through the second quarter. Four straight points from senior LaShawna Gatewood (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) and a lay-up by senior Morgan Neighbors (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) gave the Lady Knights a 37-16 edge with 4:31 left in the first half.
  • The lead hit 21 points again after freshman Elissa Ellerbrock's (Ottawa, Ohio Ottawa-Glandorf) lay-up at the 2:16 mark, before Gannon eventually took a 43-26 advantage into halftime.
  • The opening six minutes of the third quarter were played on even terms, before Gannon pulled further away during the final four minutes.
  • Leading 55-39, the Lady Knights scored the final nine points to assume a 64-39 edge after three quarters. The same theme continued with four different Lady Knights contributing. Thies capped the quarter with an old-fashion three-point play after being fouled while converting a lay-up with one second left.
  • Gannon slowly extended the lead throughout the fourth quarter, before ending the game with its biggest lead of the afternoon. Senior Marissa Guyton (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) hit a free throw with 39 seconds left to account for the final 84-54 score.

GAME NOTES
  • Thies led the charge once again with her fifth consecutive double-double, manufacturing 18 points and 10 rebounds. She also added three assists while finishing 6-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
  • Shives followed with 16 points, including 11 during the opening 20 minutes.
  • Gatewood completed Gannon's trio of double-digit scorers with a career-high 10 points and four rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench.
  • Gannon shot 52.7 percent (29-55) from the field, 40 percent (6-15) from three-point range and 90.9 percent (20-22) from the free throw line.
  • Kayla DeCriscio and Jasmine Harper headlined the Pitt-Johnstown offensive unit with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
  • The Mountain Cats shot 31.6 percent (18-57) from the floor, 28.6 percent (8-28) from behind the arc and 83.3 percent (10-12) from the charity stripe.
  • Gannon produced large advantages in points off turnovers (22-10), points in the paint (36-20) and bench points (31-10).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon clinched its fifth consecutive PSAC Tournament spot and 18th postseason appearance in the last 19 years.
  • The Lady Knights momentarily moved one-half game ahead of Indiana (Pa.) and into second place in the PSAC Western Division. The Crimson Hawks host Edinboro tonight at 5:30 p.m. Gannon also moved within one-half game of California (Pa.) who defeated Davis & Elkins 101-56 in a non-conference game.
  • Gannon defeated Pitt-Johnstown for the sixth consecutive time, recording its third consecutive season sweep.
  • The Lady Knights are 6-0 against the Mountain Cats since UPJ joined the PSAC prior to the 2013-14 academic year.
  • Thies moved past Lori Parson (1981-84) and into 11th place all-time at Gannon in career rebounds (617). She jumped past Katie Garms (2001-04) and Emily Thornbury (2002-05) while moving into 36th place all-time in scoring (744).
  • Senior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) surpassed Kelly Reedy (1982-85) and secured ninth place all-time at Gannon in career assists (367).
  • Gannon shot over 50 percent for the third time this season.
  • The Lady Knights' 90.9 free throw percentage was the team's best since converting 92.3 percent (12-13) during a 69-61 victory at West Chester on December 17, 2014
  • Gannon's 30-point victory was its largest since a 79-44 win at Clarion on February 11, 2015.
  • All 12 Lady Knights in uniform played with nine reaching double digits in minutes played.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon concludes a two-game road swing Wednesday, February 10 at Seton Hill.
  • Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
  • The contest can be heard live on Jet Radio 1400 and via the 90.5 WERG online stream at www.wergfm.com.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series against Seton Hill 5-1.
  • The Lady Knights won the first five meetings, before the Griffins secured their first-ever victory in the series with a 62-49 verdict at the Hammermill Center on January 16.
  • Gannon is 3-0 all-time at the McKenna Center, winning all three by at least 14 points. The Lady Knights' average scoring margin in those three contests is 19.3 points.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Amanda Berchtold

#5 Amanda Berchtold

G
5' 4"
Senior
Sports Mgt. & Marketing
Morgan Neighbors

#12 Morgan Neighbors

G
5' 9"
Senior
Business Admin.
McKenna Shives

#3 McKenna Shives

G
5' 5"
Sophomore
Undeclared
Jennie Thies

#14 Jennie Thies

F/C
6' 1"
Senior
Biology
Elissa Ellerbrock

#15 Elissa Ellerbrock

G
5' 9"
Freshman
Sport & Exercise Science/Pre-Physican Assistant
Lauren Tewes

#34 Lauren Tewes

G/F
5' 11"
Freshman
Physician Assistant
LaShawna Gatewood

#35 LaShawna Gatewood

G
5' 10"
Senior
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Amanda Berchtold

#5 Amanda Berchtold

5' 4"
Senior
Sports Mgt. & Marketing
G
Morgan Neighbors

#12 Morgan Neighbors

5' 9"
Senior
Business Admin.
G
McKenna Shives

#3 McKenna Shives

5' 5"
Sophomore
Undeclared
G
Jennie Thies

#14 Jennie Thies

6' 1"
Senior
Biology
F/C
Elissa Ellerbrock

#15 Elissa Ellerbrock

5' 9"
Freshman
Sport & Exercise Science/Pre-Physican Assistant
G
Lauren Tewes

#34 Lauren Tewes

5' 11"
Freshman
Physician Assistant
G/F
LaShawna Gatewood

#35 LaShawna Gatewood

5' 10"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G