ERIE, Pa. – The 14^th-ranked Gannon women's basketball team shot a season-high 54 percent from the floor and rolled to an 81-50 PSAC West victory over Clarion on Wednesday evening at the Hammermill Center.

The win is Gannon's fourth in a row as the Knights improved to 14-2 overall and 9-2 in PSAC play. Clarion fell to 3-15 overall (2-11 PSAC).
 
Gannon outscored Clarion 23-4 in the opening quarter, which included a 23-0 scoring run that spanned a seven-minute stretch that allowed the Knights to take control of the game early. Defensively, Gannon limited Clarion to just 2-of-14 from the floor (14.3 percent) in the opening quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Gannon shot a blistering 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the floor and went to the break with a 41-21 advantage. Sydney Mitchell (Halethorpe, Md./Seton Keough) (11), McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) (8), Samantha Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) (7) and Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) (7) led the Gannon offense in the first half.

Great to have basketball back at the Mill! Check out some highlights and post-game reaction from senior Sydney Mitchell (Halethorpe, Md./Seton Keough) (four three-pointers) and head coach Cleve Wright after tonight's 81-50 victory over Clarion. #UKnighted pic.twitter.com/5liV9q4yVa

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) January 27, 2022

 
Entering the third quarter with a 20-point lead, the Knights broke open the game by shooting 9-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-6 from three and outscored the Golden Eagles 25-13 in the quarter. Gannon grabbed its largest lead of the game at the 2:28 mark in the third (64-29) following a three by Ali Benim (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek). Gannon led by 32 (66-34) after three quarters of play and maintained the 30-point advantage with an 81-50 final over Golden Eagles.
 
Gannon put together one of its best offensive performances of the season, finishing the game with its second-highest scoring output of the season at 81 points. Gannon's top scoring performance of the season was back on Dec. 18 against Mansfield, an 86-45 home win. Gannon's 10 three-pointers on Wednesday were also its second-most this season. The Knights hit 11 three against Mansfield (12/18/21).
 
Gannon also outrebounded Clarion 47-23 in the victory, including a 13-9 margin on the offensive glass. The Knights finished the evening with 40 points in the paint and 13 second-chance points.
 
On the defensive end, Gannon limited Clarion to just 35 percent from the floor (20-of-57), including just 4-of-24 from behind the arc (16.7%). GU also scored 18 points off 14 Clarion turnovers.
 
The Lady Knights used a balanced offense in the win with four double-figure scorers. Wright finished the evening with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. Wright shot 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from three. GU also got 14 points and three assists from Mitchell as the senior shot 5-of-7 from the floor with four 3-pointers. Nation shot 6-of-8 and scored 13 points, while Pirosko chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
 
Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) led Gannon on the glass with 10 rebounds to go seven points and three assists. The double-digit rebounding performance is her seventh in the last nine games.
 
Gannon also finished the evening with 23 assists on 32 made baskets, including six from Emily Poling (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) and five from Faith Williams (Grafton, Ohio/Elyria Catholic).
 
Cory Santoro led Clarion with 14 points in the setback. Sierra Bermudez added 11 points.
 
The Lady Knights will now prepare for a road game at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday afternoon. Tip is set for 1 p.m. Following Saturday's road game, Gannon will return home for four in a row at the Hammermill Center.