CLARION, Pa. – When the Gannon women's basketball team needed a spark in the second half against Clarion on Saturday, the Golden Knights' All-American stepped up.

Senior Sam Pirosko connected on back-to-back 3-point field goals to turn a two-point deficit into a four-point lead midway through the third quarter, and the Golden Knights never trailed again in a 54-44 victory over the Golden Eagles at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.

No. 3/4-ranked Gannon claimed its 16th consecutive win as it improved to 19-1 overall and 11-0 in the PSAC West.  

Clarion dropped to 0-17 and 0-11.
 

Clarion record deceiving:

Entering Saturday's game, Gannon coach Cleve Wright knew Clarion's record was not indicative of its play, especially recently. The Golden Eagles were coming off a 66-62 overtime loss against a talented California, Pa., team.

Clarion continued its run of solid play into Saturday's game as heavily favored Gannon trailed 11-8 after one quarter before taking a slim 24-22 lead into halftime. Abby Gatesman hit a 3-pointer to give Clarion a 31-29 lead midway through the third quarter.

Then Pirosko took over. With 4:20 left in the quarter, the 5-foot-10 senior All-American took a pass from Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) and buried a 3-pointer to give Gannon a 32-31 lead. About one minute later, Pirosko broke free off a pass from Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) and sank another 3-pointer to extend the margin to 35-31.

After two free-throws by Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) and bucket by Clarion, Wheatley got into the act, draining a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass to give Gannon a 40-33 lead.

Two free throws by Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) late in the period extended GU's advantage to 42-33.

Gannon's lead was never less than even points or more than 11 points in the fourth quarter.

 
By the numbers:

Pirosko led Gannon with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

GU sophomore guard Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) had a tough day shooting but still finished with 11 points.

Senior post player McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) added eight points and a team-high six rebounds.

Freshman guard Olivia Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) made her first college start. She missed her only shot attempt of the game, but she finished with four assists and four rebounds.

Gannon shot an uncharacteristically low 34 percent (17-of-50) from the field, but the Knights limited Clarion to 29.8 percent (14-of-47) and forced 24 turnovers. Clarion outrebounded Gannon 39-33.

Gatesman paced Clarion with 11 points and nine rebounds.