THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: Gannon 88, Clarion 61
Records: GU (20-6, 16-4 PSAC West) | CU (4-22, 2-18 PSAC West)
Location: Hammermill Center | Erie, Pa.
The Short Story: Gannon swept their third PSAC opponent Wednesday night with its 88-61 win over Clarion. A dominant first quarter set the pace for the remainder of the game. Three players had six points each by the end of one helping the Knights jump out to a 27-12 lead and seal the win over the Golden Eagles early in the game.

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HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) sparked Gannon's offense out of the jump ball with a jumper that led the Knights on a 9-2 run in the first three minutes of action. Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) scored on the next trip down the floor, while Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) tallied an assist on both buckets. Neely Whitehead connected at the 8:51 mark for the Golden Eagles' first field goal of the game. Obenrader would score again, while Sydney Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough) knocked down a three-pointer to close the run. By the end of the first quarter, six Gannon players were on the board as the Knights took a 27-12 lead.
• Clarion opened the second with a three-pointer from Olivia Boocks followed by a layup from Hallie Hart. Rourke responded with two straight back door cuts for Gannon to spark a 9-0 run for the Knights. Mitchell hit her second three, while Daria-Hanna Koul (Minsk, Belarus/J. Addison) got her first points of the game. Celeste Ryman ended the run with a three-pointer for the Golden Eagles at the 4:55 mark. Ali Benim (/Harbor Creek) and Emily Poling (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) each scored before the end of the half to edge Clarion 46-26 at the break.
• The teams traded baskets to start the third quarter before the Golden Eagles used an 8-1 run midway through in an attempt to cut into the Gannon lead. Ke'Airah Massiah knocked down a pair of free throws to start the run by Clarion. Emily Hegedus got her turn a minute later on a layup, but a free throw from Mitchell broke the Gannon scoreless streak. Massiah scored the final four points of the run for CU. Poling hit her second three-pointer of the game at the 2:52 mark leading the Knights on a 9-2 run to close the quarter.
• The Knights continued that run into the fourth scoring on their first three possessions. Massiah drove in for a layup for the Golden Eagles, but six straight points from Gannon capped the 18-4 run. Benim scored five points for the Knights in the final four minutes helping the team to an 88-61 win over the Golden Eagles.

 
GAME NOTES

• Gannon scored 27 points in the first quarter with the help of six players. The Knights scored 27 points in a single-quarter earlier this season vs. Seton Hill on Jan. 8. They scored a season-best 30 points in a single-quarter at Lake Erie.
• Haley Tewes (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Kettering) notched her third double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 boards for the Knights. She went 4-for-4 from the free throw line and added a game-high two blocks.
• Obenrader led all-scorers with 19 points for her third straight game scoring double-figures. She was 8-of-11 from the field with seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Rourke added 12 points with five rebounds, four assists and one block.
• Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) was the fourth and final player in double-figures with a career-high 10 points. She also tied her career-best with five rebounds in the win.
• Benim finished with seven points to record a new career-high. She was 2-of-3 from the field with one three pointer and a perfect 2-for-2 from the foul line.
• Breanna Ransom (Brewerton, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) knocked down a late three-pointer for Gannon to record her first points of the season.
• This is Cleve Wright's sixth season with at least 20 wins as the head coach of the Knights.

 
UP NEXT

• Gannon hosts Slippery Rock on Saturday for Senior Day.
• Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm in the Hammermill.
• Chelsea  Rourke and Haley  Tewes will be honored prior to the men's game with the three seniors from the men's team.
• The Knights clinched the No. 2 seed in the PSAC West and receive a first round bye in the PSAC Tournament.