ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University women's basketball team clinched the PSAC West regular-season title on Wednesday.

Coach Cleve Wright and his team have bigger goals ahead.

Senior forward Sam Pirosko led the way with 25 points and moved up the Gannon career scoring list, but many Golden Knights contributed on Wednesday night as they downed Clarion University 83-60 at the Highmark Events Center.

Gannon improved to 16-3 in the PSAC West and secured the regular-season title after second-place Edinboro (12-7) lost to IUP.  GU has a four-game lead with three games to play. The Knights also moved to 24-3 overall with their sixth consecutive victory.

In the process, Gannon clinched the No. 1 seed for the PSAC Tournament and will receive a first-round bye. The Golden Knights will host a quarterfinal game on March 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Pirosko entered the game needing 23 points to pass Carrie Nolan for 10th place on Gannon's career scoring list. She scored 16 second-half points to move her career total to 1,374 points. Nolan had 1,371 points in her career.
 

PSAC West women's basketball:
4th quarter: Gannon 62, Clarion 43, 8:27 left.
Sam Pirosko leads with 23 points. She moves into 10th place on Gannon's career scoring list with 1,372 points, passing GU great Carrie Nolan (1,371). This basket put Pirosko ahead. pic.twitter.com/MvLZFNNsya

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) February 15, 2023

Pirosko also collected a game-high 10 rebounds.

Senior guard Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) scored 13 points, and junior forward McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) added a season-high 11 points.

Gannon forward Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) and Madison Demski (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) were whistled for two fouls apiece in the first quarter. That created an opportunity for Nation to play extensive minutes throughout the first half. The 6-foot-2 post player responded with seven points, three rebounds, two blocked shots, and an assist in seven minutes of first-half action.

Nation finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and two assists in 13 productive minutes.

PSAC West women's basketball:
End of the first quarter: Gannon 28, Clarion 13
Balanced scoring attack for GU.
McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) scores the final points of the quarter on this play.@GannonU @gannonwbb @psacsports pic.twitter.com/hIF2csX3FH

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) February 15, 2023

Senior guard Ali Benim (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) was another strong contributor as she scored nine points in 13 minutes. Freshman guard Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added eight points and five rebounds, and junior guard Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) scored seven points.

Gannon shot well again, making 50 percent (32-of-64) of its field-goal attempts, including 7-of-17 3-pointers for 41.2 percent. The Golden Knights limited Clarion to 36.4 percent shooting (20-of-55) from the field.

The Gannon women lead the PSAC in field-goal shooting at 46.1 percent and rank second in field-goal defense (36.1 percent). Pirosko leads the PSAC with a 56.4 field-goal percentage.

Gannon trailed Clarion 8-6 early but finished the first quarter with a 22-5 run to take a 28-13 lead into the second period. The Golden Eagles trimmed the lead to 10 points on several occasions, including at halftime (41-31), but could get not closer as the Golden Knights expanded their lead during the second half.

The Golden Knights also took care of the ball while committing just nine turnovers in the game.

Gannon will next travel to Greensburg on Saturday for a game against Seton Hill at 1 p.m. The Griffins are the only team to beat the Golden Knights in the past 19 games.