Madison Demski vs. Notre Dame
58
Notre Dame (OH) NDOH 0-2,0-0 MEC
70
Winner Gannon Gannon 1-0,0-0 PSAC
Notre Dame (OH) NDOH
0-2,0-0 MEC
58
Final
70
Gannon Gannon
1-0,0-0 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Notre Dame (OH) NDOH 11 16 13 18 58
Gannon Gannon 9 21 19 21 70

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Debuts with 70-58 Win over Notre Dame (Ohio)

ERIE, Pa. – Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) picked up where she left off last year as the Gannon women's basketball team opened up the 2022-23 campaign with a 70-58 win over Notre Dame (Ohio) at Highmark Events Center.

The contest was part of the Atlantic Region Challenge. While Gannon was playing its initial game the Falcons opened the season on Friday and are now 0-2. The Golden Knights return to action on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. hosting Salem. Gannon came into the game among "others receiving votes in the WBCA Division II Preseason Poll.

Wright ended the 2021-22 season with a career-high 25 points in the NCAA Tournament loss to Shepherd, and had been named the MVP of the PSAC Tournament. On Saturday night the 5'11" guard led all scorers with 20 points, making 3-of-6 3-pointers. She added eight rebounds and three steals.

Three Golden Knights scored in double figures, with Madison Demski (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) scoring 12 points and pulling down six rebounds in her Gannon debut and Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) contributing 10 points while making a pair of 3-pointers. Demski is a transfer from Holy Cross while Wheatley had missed the 2021-22 season with an injury.

Sam Pirosko led all rebounders with 10 boards along with six points and a pair of steals. Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley), another player who missed a good portion of last season, had six points and five assists. Freshman guard Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) came off the bench to contribute seven points, making 3-of-4 shots.

Gannon overcome a cold start to shoot 41.4 percent from the floor (24-of-58), making 8-of-23 3-pointers along with 14-of-19 free throws. Notre Dame (Ohio) was limited to 38.2 percent from the floor (21-of-55), with 4 3-pointers in 13 attempts, and was 12-of-19 at the line. Gannon dominated the glass with 45 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive end, while Notre Dame (Ohio) had 29 boards. That led to a 21-7 advantage in second-chance points.

A pressing Falcons' defense forced 22 Gannon turnovers that led to 20 points, while Notre Dame (Ohio) committed 17 turnovers resulting in 15 Gannon points.   

Gannon got off to a slow start trailing 11-9 after one period. The Golden Knights shot just 20.0 percent (3-of-15) in the opening 10 minutes. They would grab the lead for good early in the second quarter, but were unable to pull away until late in the third quarter. Wright's 3-pointer gave Gannon a 14-11 lead as the Golden Knights scored the first six points of the quarter.

The Gannon lead was still just three points at 30-27 at the half but the Golden Knights would make 8-of-15 shots in the quarter. They continued to make baskets in the third quarter, outscoring the Falcons 19-13 to pull ahead 49-40 after three quarters. Wright had seven points and four rebounds in the quarter.

After building a double-digit lead, Gannon saw Notre Dame (Ohio) make a run midway through the final period to close to within four points on two occasions, the last at 55-51 with 5:59 remaining. Gannon responded with a 13-3 run to finally pull away for its largest lead of the game at 68-54 with just under two minutes to play. Wright contributed nine of those points.  

Marina Adachi led Notre Dame (Ohio) with 18 points, adding five steals, while Alana Ellis added 17 markers. Noel Weathers pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.  
 
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