THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: Gannon 61, Mercyhurst 46
Records: GU (13-4, 9-2 PSAC West) | MU (4-13, 4-7 PSAC West)
Location: Mercyhurst Athletic Center | Erie, Pa.
The Short Story:  Gannon used a series of runs throughout the game Saturday night to stay ahead of crosstown rival Mercyhurst. The Knights opened the game with eight straight points to gain the lead and never look back. Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) led the Knights with 14 points and 11 rebounds to post her second straight double-double and lead Gannon to its second straight Porreco Cup.
 
GAME DAY MEDIA CENTER
Box Score: Click Here
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Highlight Video: Coming soon
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PSAC Standings: Click here
PSAC Statistics: Click Here
Rapid Reaction with Cleve Wight: Click Here
Rapid Reaction with Tori  Obenrader: Click Here
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) scored out of the jump ball to ignite an 8-0 run for Gannon to open the game. Obenrader closed the run with back-to-back contested baskets under the hoop. Amber Renz broke the run with a layup and the first two points for Mercyhurst. The Lakers struggled under the five minute mark allowing the Knights to score another nine unanswered points. Gannon would lead 21-8 after the first.
• McKinney started the scoring again in the second connecting on a short jumper for the Knights. She went on to score the next five points with a three pointer and driving layup. Rourke completed the 9-0 run with a bucket in the lane. Kori Sidwell snapped the run on a jumper to make it a 20-point game at the 6:26 mark. The Lakers held the Knights to just six points in the final five minutes of the half and would narrow the lead 36-18 at the halftime break.
• The Lakers hung with the Knights in the third as they put up 12 points and held Gannon to 13. Renz opened the half with a jumper followed by a three from Sidwell. Haley Tewes (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Kettering) finally scored for the Knights two minutes in and the teams would trade baskets for the remainder of the quarter. Obenrader completed a three-point play in the final two minutes, while Tewes knocked down a free throw for the final point of the third giving Gannon a 49-30 lead.
• Both teams struggled to start the fourth. Obenrader broke the scoreless streak with a layup at the 7:16 mark. The teams faced another drought that was broken by Mitchell with a pair of free throws at the 5:28 mark. Out of the media timeout, Emily Shopene hit two consecutive threes for the Lakers narrowing the lead to 17 points. Nicolete Newman followed in her footsteps under the three minute mark hitting two straight from the arc to get within 17 again, but the Knights would hold off tthe Lakers for their second straight win over Mercyhurst.

 
GAME NOTES

• The Knights have won four of the last five meetings in vs. Mercyhurst and take their second straight Porreco Cup.
• Obenrader was named the Game Changer after recorded her second straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She is the first player since last January to notch double-doubles in back to back games. Obenrader was 6-of-8 from the field and tallied two assists in the action.
• Tewes and McKinney scored 11 points each in Saturday's contest. Tewes was 4-of-9 from the field and added five rebounds and a block. McKinney led the Knights with three assists and three steals.
• Rourke was the fourth Gannon player in double-figures with 10 points on 4-of-5 from the field. She was a perfect 2-for-2 from the arch and tallied five boards and two assists.
• Sam Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) came off the bench and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• The Knights are now 12-0 when at least three players score in double-figures.
• The Knights shot over 60 percent in the first half and finished the game shooting 49 percent, while holding the Lakers to 32.1 percent. Gannon improves to 11-0 this season when shooting a better field goal percentage from the field.
• The Knights outrebounded the Lakers 42-22. They held Mercyhurst without a defensive rebound for the first 12 minutes of the game.

 
UP NEXT

• Gannon returns home next week to host California on Wednesday.
• Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm in the Hammermill.
• Live stats and video will be available.