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Women's Basketball Josh Hill, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

PREVIEW: Lady Knights Tip Off Stretch Run at Clarion on Wednesday (Video/Game Notes)

 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL
 Game 28: Gannon (12-15, 8-11 PSAC) at Clarion (9-17, 3-15 PSAC)
 Game Details  Wednesday, February 27 | 5:30 PM |
 Student Recreation Center | Clarion, Pa.
 Game Coverage  Live Video – Clarion Stretch Portal
 Radio – Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM The Fan (Erie)
 Live Audio Stream – Click Here
 Live Stats – Click Here
 Twitter Updates - @GUKnights
 Tickets  General Admission - $5
 Ticket Details
 Gannon Links  Game Notes (PDF) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
 Clarion Links  WBB Homepage | Roster | Schedule | ­­Stats
 

 

 JIM BRUNELLI WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
  • Hosted by Alex Womer: Click Here (or listen above)
  • Courtesy Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM The Fan - Erie, Pa.
 
CLARION BROADCAST INFORMATION:
  • Gannon Combined Stats (PDF): Click Here
  • Live Video: PSAC Digital Network (Clarion Stretch Portal)
    • Broadcasters: TBA
  • Live Audio: Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM The Fan
    • Broadcaster: Alex Womer
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE:  
CLARION SERIES INFORMATION:
  • All-Time Series: Gannon leads 38-15
  • First Meeting: 1975-76: at Clarion 74, Gannon 48
  • Last Meeting: January 21, 2019: at Gannon 62, Clarion 53 | Box Score
  • How It Happened: After winter weather pushed the game to Monday afternoon, both teams shook off the rust from a shaky first half to deliver in the final 20 minutes. A jumper from Clarion's Taylor Moltz brought the visitors to within one point (46-45) with 5:27 left in the game, but the Lady Knights took control from there by responding with a quick 7-0 run for a 53-45 lead. A block from Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) jumpstarted the Gannon scoring run and Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) converted an and-one opportunity on the other end as Gannon took the lead for good with 4:29 left in the divisional matchup.
 
GANNON STORYLINES/NOTES:
  • Gannon (12-15, 8-11 PSAC) picked up a key divisional win last time out against Mercyhurst on Saturday, 62-60, keeping the Lady Knights in the driver's seat for the final spot in the conference tournament.
  • Sydney Mitchell (Halethorpe, Md./Seton Keough) drove down the left block for the go-ahead layup from Lauren Tewes (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Kettering) with 5.7 seconds remaining in regulation against the Lakers, sealing the win for Gannon.  In total, Mitchell netted 15 points which included nine in the fourth quarter. She also reached the 100-assist plateau for the season with four helpers against Mercyhurst.
  • With five of the six spots in the PSAC West secured for the conference tournament already secured, Gannon is one of three teams vying for the sixth and final spot. In addition to the final spot being up for grabs, seeding in the conference tournament is also up in the air with the results of this week's game sorting out the final order.
  • A win against Clarion and some help from around the league could clinch a spot in the postseason for Gannon, but wins against Clarion and Slippery Rock would also put the Lady Knights into the conference tournament regardless of other results.
  • Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) notched her fourth 20-point game of the season last Saturday, dropping in a career-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. The Gibsonia, Pa. native earned the "Game Changer" award in the Porreco Pride of Erie game, an honor bestowed upon the student-athlete that had the biggest impact on the contest.
  • Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) continues to emerge as one of the top first-year players in the country, nabbing her sixth PSAC West Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week honor on Monday. Obenrader has earned the award for the third consecutive week and leads the Lady Knights with 6.9 rebounds/game.
  • Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) continues to pace the Lady Knights in scoring, averaging 13.2 points/game on 60.6% shooting from the field.
  • Head coach Jim Brunelli secured his 100th career win at the helm of the Gannon basketball program against Clarion back on January 21.
  • The duo of Rourke (17 pts, six reb, 36 min) and LaCava (15 pts, three reb, 5-9 FG) pushed the Lady Knights to a 62-53 win in the first meeting of the season against Clarion back on January 21 in the Pink Zone Doubleheader at the Hammermill Center.
  • The Lady Knights have a 6-5 record in road games this season.
 
SCOUTING CLARION:
  • Clarion is looking to bounce back from two consecutive losses, most recently an 88-69 defeat to Edinboro on February 23.
  • The Golden Eagles have shifted around their lineup and can give teams trouble with a variety of scoring options, as evidenced by an impressive 92-78 home win against Slippery Rock on February 16.
  • Kadijah Dickson (15.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, .448 FG%) paces the Clarion offense while Yndiah Bobo (10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.0 APG) also averages in double figures for the Golden Eagles.
  • Opponents are shooting nearly 45% from the floor against Clarion and 35% from beyond the arc.
  • Dickson picked up her team-high eight double-double of the season last time out against the Fighting Scots, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds.
  • The Golden Eagles own a 5-8 mark at home this season, with victories coming against conference opponents Mansfield and Slippery Rock.
  • Head coach Jana Ashley is in her fifth season at Clarion. A former NCAA Division I assistant coach and NCAA Division II player at North Alabama, Ashley was named the Golden Eagles head coach back in 2014.
 
UP NEXT:
  • Gannon caps the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday, March 2 on the road against Slippery Rock at 1:00 PM.
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Players Mentioned

Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

C/F
6' 0"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Sydney Mitchell

#23 Sydney Mitchell

G
5' 11"
Sophomore
Nursing
Chelsea Rourke

#13 Chelsea Rourke

G/F
5' 10"
Junior
Nursing
Lauren Tewes

#34 Lauren Tewes

G/F
5' 11"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

G/F
5' 11"
Freshman
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med

Players Mentioned

Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

6' 0"
Senior
Physician Assistant
C/F
Sydney Mitchell

#23 Sydney Mitchell

5' 11"
Sophomore
Nursing
G
Chelsea Rourke

#13 Chelsea Rourke

5' 10"
Junior
Nursing
G/F
Lauren Tewes

#34 Lauren Tewes

5' 11"
Senior
Physician Assistant
G/F
Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

5' 11"
Freshman
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med
G/F