EDINBORO, Pa. – As the postseason looms, the Gannon University women's basketball team competed in a playoff atmosphere on Wednesday night.

Trailing in the fourth quarter, the Golden Knights responded with a clutch win worthy of a playoff game.

Senior guard Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) scored 11 points during a 13-2 run as Gannon overcame a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter to emerge with its eight consecutive victory, a 72-64 win over rival Edinboro at McComb Fieldhouse.

The game was played in front of a crowd of 874 that featured a boisterous student section, which contributed to the playoff mood of the evening.

Gannon improved to 26-3 overall and 18-3 in the PSAC West. Last week, the Knights clinched the PSAC West regular-season title, the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Tournament and a first-round bye. Coach Cleve Wright's team will host a PSAC quarterfinal game against an opponent to be determined on March 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Highmark Events Center.

If Gannon were to win that quarterfinal game, it would host the PSAC Final Four on March 4-5. Earlier on Wednesday, the Golden Knights learned they were ranked No. 2 in the initial NCAA Division II Atlantic Region poll. The Knights are ranked 11th nationally in the D2SIDA Division II Top 25 and 15th in the WBCA Top 25.

Edinboro dropped to 15-11 overall and 12-9 in the PSAC West. Despite the loss, the Fighting Scots clinched a playoff berth Wednesday night.
 
WRIGHT'S SURGE
 
Wright finished with a game-high 19 points while making 5-of-9 3-point attempts. Her three most important 3-point field goals came during Gannon's decisive fourth-period run.

With Edinboro leading 58-55 with 4:42 remaining, Wright hit a 3-pointer to tie the score. Just 37 seconds later, she connected on another 3-pointer to give Gannon at 61-58 edge. Gannon led the rest of the way.
 
BENCH DELIVERS
 
After senior guard Ali Benim (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) hit a layup with 3:04 left, Wright followed with a 2-point jumper and another 3-pointer to give Gannon a 68-60 lead with 1:33 left.

Benim was one of three players who made big contributions in a reserve role. She scored eight points in the fourth quarter. Freshman guard Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) finished with 13 points, while senior post player Madison Demski (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) added six points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots.
 
PIROSKO WATCH

Senior forward Sam Pirosko also had another strong night for Gannon. The Golden Knights' leading scorer on the season was limited to just two points in the first half, but she scored 12 in the third quarter and finished with 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Pirosko also continued her ascent up Gannon's career scoring list. Her 16 points gave her 1,423 in her career, as she passed Tonya Treharne (1,415 points from 1986-89) for ninth place on the list. Her 575 points this season rank her eighth in Gannon history in a season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Gannon shot 48 percent from both the field (25-of-52) and 3-point range (12-of-25). The Knights limited Edinboro to 41.4 percent shooting from the floor. Hayley Sims and Lauren Mullen led Edinboro with 17 points apiece.

Gannon has now won 20 of its past 21 games. The Knights had a 12-game winning streak before starting their current eight-game run.

Two GU seniors had solid games aside from scoring. Point guard Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) had five points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Senior post player Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) had seven rebounds and four assists.

WHAT'S NEXT

Gannon will close the regular season with Senior Day on Saturday when the Golden Knights host Erie County rival Mercyhurst at 1 p.m.