THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: Gannon 66, Elizabeth City State 64
Records: GU (1-0, 0-0 PSAC) | ECSU (0-1, 0-0 CIAA)
Location: R.L. Vaughan Center | Elizabeth City, N.C.
The Short Story: The Lady Knights battled back from a 14-point deficit to win their season opener over the Vikings Friday night. Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) poured in a new career-high 27 points, which included 14 points in the fourth quarter as Gannon used a late spark to edge out ECSU. Three other players finished in double-figures leading Gannon's third straight season-opening win over the Vikings.
 
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED

• Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) and Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) scored out ofa the gates for the Knights giving them a quick 6-2 lead in the first quarter. The Vikings used a 12-0 run regain the lead over the Knights. Obenrader snapped the run to spark six straight points for Gannon to trail ECSU 14-12 into the second quarter.
• Gannon trailed by 14 points two different times in the second quarter as they struggled to gain momentum. Rourke converted on two free throws to end the half and bring the Knights within seven of ECSU.
• Two free throws from Sydney Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough) early in the third quarter sparked a Gannon rally and they would never trail by more than eight points for the remainder of the half. Mitchell made a crucial layup down the stretch with 1:06 left in the quarter. Haley Tewes (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Kettering) made a big steal with just 41 second on the clock leading to a three-pointer from Emily Poling (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) to cut ECSU's lead to two points heading into the final ten minutes.
• Obenrader exploded for 14 points in the fourth quarter and tied the game 57-57 with a free throw. At the 1:02 mark, Obenrader hit a layup to give the Knights their first lead since the first quarter. Tewes and Mitchell would score crucial points in the final minute leading Gannon to a 66-64 win.

 
GAME NOTES

• Gannon opens the season for the third straight year with a win over Elizabeth City State. They are 3-0 in the all-time series matchup after the win. The Lady Knights have only lost a season opener 11 times since 1974-75.
• Obenrader soared past her previous career-high of 20 points and finished with 27 to lead all-scorers. She also finished with a team-high seven boards.
• Obenrader finished 12-of-17 from the field and is the first Knight to do make at least 10 field goals since January of last season.
• Rourke finished with 12 points, three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. She was 4-of-5 from the line.
• Mitchell finished with 11 points, seven of which came from the free throw line down the stretch for Gannon.
• McKinney shot 50 percent from the field and added ten points for the Knights in the win.
• Four players also finished in double-figures for the Vikings. Devona Stell had a team-best performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
• The Knights capitalized on ECSU's 25 turnovers by scoring 25 points off of them.
• Gannon also dominated the paint 40 points to ECSU's 28.
• The Knights shot 46 percent from the field to edge the Vikings, but ECSU connected on 40 percent of their three-point attempts while Gannon only shot 13 percent from beyond the arc.

 
UP NEXT

• The Knights are back in action tomorrow to play Johnson C. Smith in the closing game of the PSAC-CIAA Challenge.
• Tipoff is 6 pm.
• Gannon leads the all-time series 2-1.