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Women's Basketball 11/23/2022 1:17:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Pirosko Scores 25 Points as Wright Picks Up 300th Win as Gannon's Head Coach

Golden Knights defeat UPR Rio Piedras 63-44

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Samantha Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) scored a season-high 25 points as Gannon pulled away in the second half for a 63-44 win over UPR Rio Piedras on Wednesday morning. The victory was the 300^th as Gannon's head coach for Cleve Wright, who is in his second stint at Gannon and his 15^th season overall.
Gannon improved to 5-0 on the season. The win came a day after the Golden Knights debuted in the WBCA Division II Top 25 in the 20^th position. They are also 14^th in the latest D2SIDA Top 25.

Pirosko, a fifth-year forward, made 12-of-17 shots and went 1-for-1 at the line to total 25 points. She added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Pirosko was the only Golden Knight in double figures, but plenty of other players pitched in. Freshman Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) came off the bench to finish with nine points in 14 minutes. Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) turned in her top effort of the season with eight points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes. The 12 boards match her career high. Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) had seven points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks, while Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) did not score but had seven assists. Maddy Wheatly pulled down six rebounds.

Gannon shot 44.4 percent for the game (28-of-63), making 4-of-24 3-pointers and going 3-of-7 at the line. Rio Piedras was limited to 32.0 percent from the floor (16-of-50), making 3-of-13 3-pointers, and made 9-of-15 3-pointers. Gannon dominated in the point, outscoring Rio Piedras 40-20.

The rebound battle also went to Gannon, 40-31. The Golden Knights committed 10 turnovers while forcing 14.

Gannon trailed 14-13 at the end of the first quarter despite eight points from Pirosko. but outscored Rio Piedras 17-10 in the second quarter for a 30-24 lead at the break.

Clinging to a 32-29 lead early in the third quarter, the Golden Knights gained control with an 11-2 run to take a 43-31 lead. Claxon capped the run with a jumper, followed by a steal and layup. Wright added a three.

Gannon led 48-37 after three quarters and rode the inside tandem of Pirosko and Dogan in the fourth period. The duo combined for all but two points in the quarter, and those came on a jumper by Claxon just before the buzzer. Pirosko scored nine points and Dogan four in the quarter as Gannon outscored Rio Piedras 15-7.

The lead would grow to as large as 19 points at 56-37 with just over six minutes remaining as Gannon opened with eight straight points evenly divided by Pirosko and Dogan.

Wright now has a 300-114 record at Gannon. The veteran mentor has an overall record of 335-201 and is in his 19th season.

Gannon returns to action on Thanksgiving day playing UPR Bayamon. That contest gets underway at 11:00 a.m.

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Players Mentioned

#54 Delaney Dogan: F; 6' 0"; Graduate Student

#15 Boston McKinney: PG; 5' 4"; Graduate Student

#44 Samantha Pirosko: F; 5' 10"; Fifth Year

#13 Emma Wright: G; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#12 Bri Claxon: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#54 Delaney Dogan
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student
: F

#15 Boston McKinney
: 5' 4"; Graduate Student
: PG

#44 Samantha Pirosko
: 5' 10"; Fifth Year
: F

#13 Emma Wright
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: G

#12 Bri Claxon
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G