2022 updated women's hoops roster photo

Women's Basketball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 2 Seed Gannon to Face No. 7 Charleston (WV) in Atlantic Regional Quarterfinals

No. 2 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (29-4, 19-3 PSAC West) vs. No. 7 CHARLESTON (WV) GOLDEN EAGLES (23-8, 16-6 MEC)
NCAA Div. II Atlantic Regional -- Quarterfinals
DATE/TIME: Friday, March 10, 2023 | 2:30 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Waco Center l Glenville, W.Va.
ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS

GAME NOTES

RADIO:  Gannon basketball fans can catch all of the exciting action of Golden Knights' basketball on 90.5 WERG FM. Dan Teliski will have the call of the game.

NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional – Quarterfinals – Friday, March 10
Game 1 – No. 3 West Chester (22-8) vs. No. 6 California (Pa.) (21-10) – 12 noon
Game 2 – No. 2 GANNON (29-4) vs. No. 7 Charleston (WV) (23-8) – 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 1 Glenville State (29-2) vs. No. 8 Elizabeth City State (20-10) – 5:00 p.m.
Game 4 – No. 4 Shippensburg (24-6) vs. No. 5 West Virginia State (22-8) – 7:30 p.m.
 
NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional – Semifinals – Saturday, March 11
Game 5 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 5:00 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner – 7:30 p.m.
 
NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional – Regional Final – Monday, March 13
Game 7 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner

GANNON VS. THE ATLANTIC REGION FIELD
No. 1 seed Glenville State (29-2) – the all-time series is tied at 2-2 with the last meeting occurring in 2014-15, when Gannon opened the season with a 94-77 victory.
No. 3 seed West Chester (22-8) – West Chester handed Gannon one of its four losses this year in mid-December at West Chester, prevailing 72-66. Gannon leads the all-time series with the Golden Rams by a 6-3 margin.
No. 4 seed Shippensburg (24-6) – the Golden Knights and Raiders met in the semifinals of last weekend's PSAC Tournament, with Gannon holding off Ship 71-67. Gannon holds a 12-4 lead in the all-time series.
No. 5 seed West Virginia State (22-8) – Gannon has played the Yellow Jackets just once, that occurring in 1998-99, with the Golden Knights winning 95-55.
No. 6 seed California (Pa.) (21-10) – Gannon won of three meetings with the Vulcans this year. The all-time series is in favor of Gannon by a narrow 27-26 margin.
No. 7 seed Charleston (23-8) – the Golden Eagles have won the lone meeting between the two teams, that occurring in 1997-98. Charleston won 61-56.
No. 8 seed Elizabeth City State (20-10) – Gannon has won all three previous meetings, the last occurring in 2019-20, a season-opening 66-64 win in the CIAA/PSAC Challenge hosted by Elizabeth City State.
 
THE GANNON-CHARLESTON (WV) ALL-TIME SERIES
Charleston leads 1-0
Gannon and Charleston have met just once on the hardcourt, that occurring 25 years ago in 1997-98 in the opening round of the Slippery Rock Tournament on Nov. 21. The Golden Eagles prevailed 61-56.

The Last Meeting
Nov. 21, 1997 – Charleston 61, Gannon 56
Charleston claimed the victory in the lone meeting between the two schools while playing in the opening round of the Slippery Rock Tournament. Three Golden Eagles scored 10 points apiece to lead the way -- Kendra Peterson, Asha Quattrocchi and Lynn Radzilowski. Gannon's leading scorer, Kim Bates, also finished with 10 points. Charleston dominated on the glass, outrebounding Gannon 53-31.


ERIE, Pa. – Gannon will make its 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 10 when they face Charleston (WV) in the Atlantic Regional quarterfinals. Defending national champion Glenville State is hosting the regional for the second straight year at the Waco Center.
 
The Golden Knights come in as the number two seed after finishing as the PSAC runner-up. Gannon saw its 11-game winning streak end on Sunday with a 75-63 loss to California (Pa.) in the PSAC Championship game. The Golden Knights were attempting to become the first team since Indiana (Pa.) from 2007-09 to win three consecutive PSAC crowns.
 
Gannon has a 29-4 record and will face No. 7 seed Charleston in the quarterfinals. The Golden Eagles advanced to the Mountain East Conference Championship game on Sunday before losing to Glenville State, 76-59. They come in with a 23-8 record.
 
Gannon and Charleston will meet in the second game of the day at 2:30 p.m. The first game tips off at 12 noon and is a rematch of the PSAC semifinals between West Chester (22-8), the number three seed, and sixth-seeded Cal (21-10). Top-seed Glenville State (29-2) begins defense of its national title against Elizabeth City State (20-10), No. 8 seed and the CIAA champion at 5:00 p.m. The quarterfinals conclude at 7:30 p.m. with No. 4 seed Shippensburg (24-6) meeting No. 5 West Virginia State (22-8).
 
Head coach Cleve Wright has now guided Gannon to eight NCAA Tournaments, including Atlantic Region championships in 2010 and 2013. They reached the regional final in 2009. Gannon has lost in the quarterfinals in its last three quarterfinal games, including a 93-89 loss in double overtime to Shepherd a year ago.   
 
Gannon finished as the Western Division regular season champion after finishing with a 19-3 league record. The Golden Knights are ranked 12h in the latest D2SIDA Division II Top 25 and are 17th in the WBCA Top 25. The team's 29 wins are the third-highest in team history, topped only by 37 wins in 2009-10 and 31 in 2012-13. It is the eighth time in Wright's 15 years that Gannon has won 20-or-more games.
 
Wright's squad has enjoyed three extensive winning streaks this season. After opening with six straight wins the Golden Knights dropped road games at Kutztown and West Chester. They followed that up with 12 consecutive wins, the longest streak since 2013-14, before Seton Hill handed Gannon its lone loss at the Highmark Events Center. Since that time they had won 11 straight games, including an 82-73 win over Shippensburg in the PSAC semifinals, before losing to Cal in the third meeting between the two. Gannon had won the first two meetings.

LOOKING BACK AT THE PSAC TOURNAMENT
Gannon was looking to become the first team since Indiana (Pa.) in 2007-09 to win three straight PSAC championships. The Golden Knights reached the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament with a 71-67 win over Pitt-Johnstown in the quarterfinals, followed by an 82-73 victory in the semifinals over Eastern Division second seed Shippensburg. The Golden Knights trailed until late in the fourth quarter against UPJ before Madison Demski (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) gave Gannon the lead for good with 56 seconds remaining. Sam Pirosko took control of the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring UPJ by herself. Pirosko scored 15 of her 27 points in the final ten minutes as Gannon outscored the Mountain Cats 21-13. Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added 10 points. Pirosko took over again in the semifinal win over Shippensburg. She matched her career high with 33 points in a game that pitted the PSAC West Player of the Year against Ariel Jones, the Eastern Division Player of the Year. The two put on a show as Jones finished with 26 points. But the night belonged to Pirosko, who in addition to scoring 33 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and had five assists. Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) added a season-high 12 points while Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) had 11 and Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) 10. Gannon had defeated California (Pa.) twice during the regular season by scores of 70-63 and 76-65, but the Vulcans jumped out to a quick lead and led by as much as 19 points in the second quarter. Still trailing by 13 points after three quarters, Gannon staged a valiant rally in the fourth quarter, pulling to within four points at 62-58 with just over three minutes remaining. Cal scored the next five points to deny Gannon a third straight PSAC crown. With Cal hounding Pirosko and double-teaming her, Madison Demski (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) led three Golden Knights in double figures with a season-high 17 points. Pirosko totaled 15 points, her 32nd straight game in double figures. She added a team-high eight rebounds. Wheatley added 13 points.

WRIGHT TOPS 1,000 POINTS FOR HER CAREER
Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) scored her 1,000th career point on Sunday in the PSAC Championship game against California (Pa.). The total includes three seasons and 60 points at Grand Valley State and now 947 points as a Golden Knight to give her a total of 1,007 career points. The graduate student topped 1,000 points on a layup with 6 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
 
PIROSKO NAMED PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR, CLAXON SELECTED FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Gannon picked up two major honors on Thursday as the PSAC announced its major awards and all-conference teams. Sam Pirsosko was named the PSAC West Women's Basketball Athlete of the Year while Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) was selected the Western Division Freshman of the Year. Pirosko was named a first-team All-PSAC West honoree for the second straight year with Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) earning a spot on the second team. Pirosko is Gannon's first PSAC Athlete of the Year since Jen Papich in 2013. In addition, Kristina Freeman earned the award in 2010. Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) in 2019 is the only other Golden Knight to be named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year. Pirosko has been a force all season for Gannon. The 5'10" redshirt senior ranks second in the PSAC in scoring at 20.1 ppg. She has scored 20-or-more points in a game 17 times and has three games with 30 or more points, including a career-high 33 on Feb. 18 in a road win over Seton Hill. She has had nine double-doubles. After scoring six points in the season opener, Pirosko has scored in double figures in the past 30 games. Claxon, meanwhile, has made a big impact as a freshman. She ranks third on the team in scoring with 7.9 points per game. The 5'7" shooting guard has consistently given Gannon a spark while coming off the bench in all 31 games. Despite playing 18 minutes per game, she has had 10 double-digit scoring games this season.  She struck for a season-high 30 points in one of Gannon's biggest games of the year, a win over IUP on Jan. 11. Wright made the All-PSAC second team by virtue of her all-around play. She is second on the team with a scoring average of 13.9 ppg. and leads the Golden Knights with 62 3-point field goals. She is among the leaders in rebounding (5.1 rpg.), assists (73), steals (38), and blocked shots (20).
 
PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
2010 -- Kristina Freeman
2013 – Jen Papich
2023 – Sam Pirosko

PSAC WEST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
2019 -- Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion)
2023 – Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster)
 
WRIGHT REPEATS AS PSAC CHAMPION SCHOLAR
Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) received another major award as a student-athlete last Saturday as the graduate student was repeated as the PSAC Women's Basketball Champion Scholar. The Champion Scholar is awarded at each of the league's 22 championship sites, and is given to the student-athlete at the finals site who has the highest grade-point average and has completed at least 48 credit hours. Wright was honored with the award before Saturday's PSAC Tournament semifinal game against Shippensburg. She went on to score 11 points to help the Golden Knights beat the Raiders 82-73. She is attending graduate school at Gannon majoring in clinical mental health.  As an undergraduate, she completed 130 hours and maintained a perfect 4.0 throughout her academic career while majoring in Psychology. Wright, who recently earned All-PSAC West Second Team honors, was the MVP of the 2022 PSAC Tournament along with being recognized as the 2022 Champion Scholar.
 
PIROSKO CONTINUES ASSAULT ON RECORD                     
Sam Pirosko has continued her climb up the career scoring charts after becoming the 31st Golden Knight with 1,000 career points earlier in the year.  The redshirt senior, who was recently named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year, has scored 20-or-more points in nine of the last 11 games after scoring 27 points against Pitt-Johnstown last Wednesday, followed by a 33-point effort in the PSAC semifinal win over Shippensburg. The 33 points matched her career high. Pirosko has scored 20-or-more points 18 times, including four games with 30-or-more points. She has moved into ninth place in career scoring with 1,518 points. The 5'10" redshirt senior has now scored in double figures in 32 straight games after opening the season with six points vs. Notre Dame (Oh.). She has had ten double-doubles and has moved into the top 15 in career rebounds with 602, good for 14th place. Pirosko leads the team in both scoring (20.3 ppg.) and rebounding (7.6 rpg.), ranking second in the PSAC in scoring and 14th in rebounding. She is second in the conference in field goal percentage (55.6 pct.) and eighth in free throw percentage (81.1 pct.). Pirosko broke the season record for points previously held by Rona Nesbit.
 
GANNON 1,000-POINT SCORERS
1. Rona Nesbit (1978-81) -- 2,340
2. Kristin Roseberry (1999-02) -- 2,147
3. Christina Jackson (2004-07) -- 1,912
4. Mary Kay Lynch (1982-85) -- 1,743
5. Kristina Freeman (2007-10) -- 1,604
6. Nettie Blake (2012-15) -- 1,536
7. Jen Papich (2011-14) -- 1,534
8. Jacki Windon (1998-01) -- 1,524
9.  SAM PIROSKO (2018-pres.) -- 1,518
10. Tonya Treharne (1986-89) -- 1,415
 
FOUR GOLDEN KNIGHTS NAMED TO CSC 2022-23 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
Four members of the Gannon women's basketball team were recently named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2022-23 Academic All-District Women's Basketball Teams. The teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex), Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley), Samantha Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North), and Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda) were all named to the Women's Basketball All-District team. Student-athletes must have a 3.50 GPA or better to qualify for the honor, and if in a master's program must have a 3.50 GPA as an undergrad and graduate student. Dogan is working on her Master's Degree in Physician's Assistant Studies and has a 3.53 GPA after recording a 3.76 GPA as an undergraduate student. McKinney has received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education and is now working on her Master's Degree in Business Administration. As an undergraduate she had a 3.55 GPA she has a 3.950 GPA as a grad student. Pirosko has a 3.962 GPA as a Physician's Assistant major, while Wright is working on her post-graduate degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA both as an undergraduate and graduate student. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-March.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS REMAIN RANKED IN WBCA, D2SIDA POLLS
The updated national rankings were released on Tuesday with Gannon dropping slightly following the loss to California (Pa.). The Golden Knights fell two spots to 12th in the D2SIDA Division II Top 25 and are now 17th in the WBCA Top 25 after being 14th last week. These are the final regular season polls. The Golden Knights had cracked the top ten of the D2SIDA Division II Top 25 twice this season before suffering losses, moving into eighth place both times.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN THE NCAA, PSAC STATISTICS
Sam Pirosko
Scoring – 20.3 ppg. – PSAC – 2nd; NCAA – 14th
Field Goal Percentage – 55.6 pct. – PSAC – 2nd; NCAA 20th
Field Goals – 249 – PSAC – 1st; NCAA – 5th
Free Throws – 146 – PSAC – 2nd; NCAA – 10th

Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley)
Assists – 154 – PSAC – 3rd; NCAA 10th

Delaney Dogan (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex)
Blocks per Game – PSAC – 6th
Blocks – 41 – PSAC – 5th; NCAA – 39th

Emma Wright (Fairview, Pa./Talawanda)
3-Pointers – 64 – PSAC 5th; NCAA – 58th
29 WINS THIRD ALL-TIME FOR GOLDEN KNIGHTS 
Gannon enters the Atlantic Regional with a 29-4 record. The 29 victories are the third-highest total in school history, bettered only by 37 wins in 2009-10 and 31 wins in 2012-13. Here's a look at the winningest seasons in Gannon women's basketball history. Note that four of the six are under the direction of head coach Cleve Wright.
 
ALL-TIME VICTORIES
2009-10 -- 37-1
2012-13  -- 31-5
2022-23  -- 29-4
2013-14 -- 28-4
2008-09 -- 26-5
1987-88 -- 26-4
 
GOLDEN KNIGHTS COME UP ONE WIN SHY OF ALL-TIME HIGH IN PSAC WINS   USED
Gannon finished the 2022-23 campaign with a 19-3 record in PSAC play. The 19 wins are one shy of the all-time high for the Golden Knights. The 2012-13 team finished with a 20-2 record in conference action. Gannon went 18-4 on three occasions – 2011-12, 2014-15, and 2019-20.

MOST PSAC WINS
2012-13 -- 20-2
2022-23 -- 19-3  
2019-20 -- 18-4
2014-15 -- 18-4
2011-12 -- 18-4

SCOUTING CHARLESTON
Head coach Tianni Kelly is in her third season at the helm of her alma mater and has enjoyed great success in that time. She has led the Golden Eagles to a 65-20 record, including a 23-8 record heading into the Atlantic Regional.  A year ago Charleston was 23-9, winning the Mountain East Conference championship and reaching the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Glenville State. In her first season, UC was 19-3, winning the MEC championship and reaching the Elite Eight during the pandemic season. This past week Charleston defeated Wheeling (62-51) and Concord (78-54) to reach the MEC Championship game before falling to Glenville State, 76-59. The Golden Eagles showcase a lineup with three All-MEC performers. Guard Trinity Palacio earned first-team honors, guard Dakota Reeves was a second-team selection, and guard Markyia McCormick was named an honorable mention choice. Palacio, a 5'4" graduate student, has scored 1,134 career points and leads the team at 15.8 ppg. She leads the team with 106 assists and 53 steals. Reeves is one of the top 3-point threats in Division II, ranking first in the MEC and fifth in Division II in 3-pointers made per game, along with ranking first and 11th in 3-point field goal percentage. The 5'7" senior has made 97-of-225 3-pointers (43.1 pct.) while averaging 11.9 ppg. She has scored 1,269 career points and has 341 career 3-pointers. She also leads the team in rebounding at 5.6 rpg. Reeves is a three-time All-MEC honoree. She was named to the second team a year ago, as well, and was an honorable mention pick in 2021. McCormick is a two-time All-MEC honoree after earning first team accolades a year ago. A 5'6" senior who began her career at Detroit Mercy, she stands second on the team in scoring at 13.1 ppg. and has made 32-of-105 3-pointers. Senior Clarrissa Francis, a 5'10" senior, adds 9.6 ppg. despite playing just under 18 minutes per game. Charleston averages 72.3 ppg. while allowing 65.2 ppg., the latter the top figure in the MEC.   
 

   
 

 
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Players Mentioned

Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

P
5' 11"
Junior
Delaney Dogan

#54 Delaney Dogan

F
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Boston McKinney

#15 Boston McKinney

PG
5' 4"
Graduate Student
Samantha Pirosko

#44 Samantha Pirosko

F
5' 10"
Fifth Year
Maddy Wheatley

#4 Maddy Wheatley

G
5' 11"
Junior
Undeclared
Emma Wright

#13 Emma Wright

G
5' 11"
Graduate Student
Bri Claxon

#12 Bri Claxon

G
5' 7"
Freshman
Madison Demski

#25 Madison Demski

F
6' 2"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

5' 11"
Junior
P
Delaney Dogan

#54 Delaney Dogan

6' 0"
Graduate Student
F
Boston McKinney

#15 Boston McKinney

5' 4"
Graduate Student
PG
Samantha Pirosko

#44 Samantha Pirosko

5' 10"
Fifth Year
F
Maddy Wheatley

#4 Maddy Wheatley

5' 11"
Junior
Undeclared
G
Emma Wright

#13 Emma Wright

5' 11"
Graduate Student
G
Bri Claxon

#12 Bri Claxon

5' 7"
Freshman
G
Madison Demski

#25 Madison Demski

6' 2"
Graduate Student
F