THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: Gannon 50, Indiana 40
Records: GU (25-6, 18-4 PSAC West) | IUP (28-3, 21-1 PSAC West)
Location: Kovalchick Complex | Indiana, Pa.
The Short Story: After only scoring 10 points in the first half, Gannon went back to the locker room at halftime to make adjustments. The Knights came out of the break to score 40 second half points, including a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, and win their first PSAC Championship since 2010. Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) was named the MVP after posting a 17 point, 16 rebound double-double in the win.
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Knights knocked down the first basket of the game just 40 seconds into the first quarter. Obenrader battled in the paint to give Gannon an early 2-0 lead. That would be the easiest basket for the Knights in the first half as they struggled from the field. Lexi Griggs tied the game 2-2 more than three minutes into the first. She quickly made it a five point lead for the Crimson Hawks with a three-pointer a couple possessions later. Gannon's next field goal of the first came when Emily Poling (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) drove in for a layup with 2:57 on the clock. Sydney Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough) and Justina Mascaro both scored from the foul line in the final minutes, and IUP took a 13-6 lead into the second.
• The second quarter was just as defensive as the first with both teams scoring single-digits. Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) got on the board first with a layup at the 8:50 mark. The next three minutes were scoreless until Rajah Fink hit a free throw for IUP. Griggs struck next for the Hawks with a pair of free throws at the 4:14 mark, while Mascaro extended the IUP run to ­5-0 with 2:30 left in the half. Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) closed the half with two free throws, but the Knights trailed 18-10 at the break.
• Gannon exploded offensively out of halftime, while maintaining its defensive efforts. Tewes and Obenrader scored three straight baskets for the Knights helping make a dent in IUP's lead. Griggs hit a jumper with 7:32 to keep IUP's lead at six, but Mitchell drove on the next two possessions to spark a 6-0 run with back-to-back layups. McKinney knotted the game at 22-22 with a layup at the 5:40 mark, which forced a 30-second timeout by the Hawks. Mascaro regained the lead with a pair of free throws, but Obenrader quickly tied it again on the next possession. She would give them a four point lead with a pair of free throws and a layup over the next two minutes. Mitchell capped the quarter from the foul line helping the Knights to a 30-28 lead over the Hawks.
• The fourth quarter saw two lead changes right off the bat. Natalie Myers connected from the arc just over a minute into the action to take a one-point lead over the Knights, but on the other end of the court, Poling answered right back with one for the Knights. Poling's three was the difference maker and sparked a 12-0 Gannon run. Obenrader hit a layup on the next possession, while Poling got another three with 7:04 on the clock. Mitchell and Obenrader capped the run with baskets in the paint for the Knights. Griggs cut Gannon's lead to eight with a three-pointer with 5:27 remaining, while Fink hit four from the foul line to cut it to four points. Tewes, Mitchell, and Obenrader all converted on late free throws to hold on to a 50-40 win over the Hawks.

 
GAME NOTES

• This is Gannon's first PSAC Championship since 2010 and second in the history of the program.
• The 90-point combined total is the lowest point total in a PSAC Championship game.
• Indiana entered the game ranked No. 7 in the nation. This is the first time since 2015 that Gannon beat a nationally ranked opponents. The Knights previously downed No. 18 California on Feb. 21, 2015.
• The Knights held the Hawks to 40 points, which is the fewest IUP has scored against a PSAC opponent this season. 
• Obenrader was named the MVP following her 17 points and 16 rebound performance. It was her 10th double-double of the season and extended her double-figure scoring streak to nine straight games.
• Mitchell added 12 points, five boards, and two blocks in the win, while Poling finished with eight points and four boards off the bench.
• Rourke dished out a game-leading four assists.

 
UP NEXT

• Gannon earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Knights will find out their seed and who and where they are playing Sunday at 10 pm during the selection show.