ERIE, Pa. – After facing a two-point deficit at the half, the Gannon women's basketball duo of Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) and Samantha Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) led Gannon to a big second half as the Knights closed out a 66-56 win over cross-county rival Mercyhurst on Wednesday evening at the jam-packed Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
Obenrader hit two game-changing 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Obenrader has now reached double-figures in four of the last five games. Pirosko also had a big game in the post for the Knights with 19 points and five rebounds.
 
With the win, Gannon clinches the season sweep of Mercyhurst and improves to 18-4 overall and 13-4 in PSAC play. The Lakers fell to 7-15 overall and 5-11 in league play.
 
With the game tied at 46-46 with 6:12 remaining in the fourth, Pirosko and Obenrader combined for 11 points to spark an 11-2 scoring run that put the Knights in control with under three minutes to play. Obenrader drained key 3-pointers at the 4:45 and 2:46 marks and Pirosko added five points early in the stretch for the Knights.
 
Mercyhurst would cut the Gannon lead to just six (62-56) with 28 seconds remaining, but Gannon buried 9-of-12 free throw attempts in the final 65 seconds of the game to derail any comeback plans the Lakers had.
 
Prior to the late scoring run that gave the Knights control of the game, the game featured eight ties and eight lead changes and both teams led for just over 18 minutes apiece in the game. Gannon's final margin of victory was its largest lead of the game, while the homestanding Lakers led by as many as seven in the second quarter.
 
In addition to big performances by Obenrader and Pirosko, the Knights also 11 points, six rebounds and two steals from Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) and Emily Poling (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) chipped in seven points, six rebounds and two assists. Ali Benim (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) also dropped in six points off the bench.
 
Gannon shot a game-high 37.9 percent from the floor (22-of-58) and hit 18-of-22 attempts from the charity stripe. The Knights also held a 44-32 rebounding advantage.
 
Mercyhurst shot 35.0 percent from the floor (21-of-60), including just 3-of-18 from behind the arc. The Lakers did have a strong night on the defensive end, forcing 16 Gannon turnovers that turned into 17 points on the offensive end.
 
Mercyhurst was led by 22 points, six rebounds and four steals from Jayde Boyd. Grace Centrulla also chipped in 10 points for the Lakers.
 
Gannon will now have 72 hours to prepare for a showdown against Indiana (PA) on Saturday afternoon at the Hammermill Center. Tip is set for 1 p.m. Saturday's game is alumni day and the 2022 Hall of Fame Game for Gannon women's basketball. GU women's basketball alum Jen Gwin (2001-05) and the 2009-10 women's basketball team will be inducted into the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 on Saturday evening following the men's and women's basketball doubleheader.