ERIE, Pa. –Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) and Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) had double-doubles, and Sam Pirosko had another big scoring night as the Gannon women's basketball team claimed an 83-66 victory over Pitt-Johnstown on Monday night at the Highmark Events Center.

Wright, a senior guard, had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Dogan, a senior post player, added 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Several of Dogan's assists were passes to Wright as she cut to through the paint to the basket, leading to easy buckets.

Pirosko, scored a game-high 22 points. It was the third consecutive 20-point game for Pirosko, who was 23 against Slippery Rock and 24 against IUP to earn her PSAC West Athlete of the Week honor.

Gannon improved to 22-3 overall and maintained its PSAC West lead moved to 14-3 in the PSAC West. Coach Cleve Wright's Golden Knights have a 2 ½-game lead over second-place Edinboro (11-5).

The Knights have won four in a row since having a season-high 12-game winning streak snapped.

Gannon continued its recent strong shooting. The Knights shot over 50 percent from the field for the fourth game in a row, hitting 32-of-63 (50.8 percent).

They also shot over 42 percent from 3-point range for the fourth straight game as they connected on 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from long range Monday.

Gannon took an early 11-0 lead as junior guard Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) hit a couple of 3's and a layup. The Golden Knights led 20-17 after one quarter, and they extended the lead to 41-29 by halftime.

Pitt-Johnstown twice trimmed the lead to nine points in the third quarter, but Gannon steadily pulled away.

SERVE GAME

Monday's game also doubled as the Gannon women's basketball team's annual Serve Game. Gannon is teaming up with the Erie Catholic School System's six schools – Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Peace, St. George, St. Jude, St. James, and St. Luke – to make 600 fleece blankets in conjunction with the Linus Project. Those blankets will be shared with area youth in need through non-profit organizations.

Students from the six Erie schools attended the game, and officials from those schools attempted halfcourt shots at halftime.

MARGO'S MOMENT
 

Senior guard Margo Loutzenhiser (Russell, Pa./Warren Area) has been out the entire season but has been a constant at Gannon practices and games. On Monday night, she got her first playing time of the year, entering the game to a loud ovation from appreciative fans and teammates.

A couple minutes later she drove to the hoop and scored on a tough runner down the left side of the lane on her first shot of the season. It was Gannon's final basket of the night, and a fitting ending to the evening as the crowd and Gannon players celebrated.