ERIE, Pa. – Career-high scoring performances by a veteran and a freshman fueled the No. 17-ranked Gannon University women's basketball team's 94-88 victory over rival Indiana (Pa.) at the Highmark Events Center.

Freshman Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) scored 30 points and senior Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) tallied 28 as both hit highs in their college career.

Their efforts helped head coach Cleve Wright's Golden Knights improve to 14-2 overall and 6-2 in the PSAC West as they moved into a tie for first place with IUP and California in the Western Division. Cal will visit Gannon for a first-place showdown on Saturday at 1 p.m.

With its second loss in a row, IUP dropped to 11-2 and 6-2.

SHOOTING THE LIGHTS OUT

Wright's sharpshooting helped Gannon roll to a big first-quarter lead as the Golden Knights clamped down on the Crimson Hawks defensively. The 5-foot-11 guard scored 10 points in the quarter while helping GU race to a 25-7 lead.

Wright finished the first half with 18 points as Gannon took a 46-29 lead into halftime.

Claxon scored 13 first-half points, but she was especially good in the second half, when her 17 points were crucial in the Golden Knights holding off a determined IUP comeback.

Claxon, a 5-foot-7 shooting guard, was extremely efficient, sinking 11-of-13 field-goal attempts and connecting on all four of her 3-point attempts. She also went 4-of-4 from the foul line. Claxon more than doubled previous season and career high of 14 points.

Wright also had big night shooting while sinking 10-of-15 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range.  She added 6-of-7 free throws. Wright had a big all-around game with five assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

The combined 21-of-28 shooting effort by Claxon and Wright helped Gannon shoot an impressive 62.7 percent (32-of-51) from the field. The Golden Knights also shot a remarkable 72.7 percent from 3-point range, making 8-of-11 attempts from long range.
 

IUP'S SECOND-HALF SURGE

Gannon led by as many as 20 points in the first half as their smothering defense frustrated IUP's skilled lineup. Gannon's Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) had a career-high six blocked shots, including four in the first half, as she led the defensive effort.

The Golden Knights grabbed their biggest lead, 69-48, late in the third quarter, but IUP was not finished. The Crimson Hawks' talented backcourt of Maria Cerro (18 points), Kiera Baughman (17), and Janiera Scott (17) helped IUP go on a late-game run. Gina Adams led IUP with 22 points.

IUP outscored Gannon 13-2 to trim the lead to 71-61 early in the final quarter.

Gannon used accurate shooting at the free-throw line to secure the win. The Knights buried 13-of-14 foul shots in the fourth quarter as they finished the game at 88 percent (22-of-25) from the stripe.

Senior forward Sam Pirosko, Gannon's leading scorer on the season, made 7-of-8 free throws and finished with 13 points.

Emily Poling (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance), a senior, who has missed most of the season with an injury, made key contributions. She sank a clutch 3-pointer, and she also made back-to-back free throws after IUP had trimmed the lead to 87-83 with 43 seconds to go.