ERIE, Pa. – Sam Pirosko has a habit of playing her best basketball when the Gannon women's basketball team needs her most.

On Wednesday night, Gannon's All-America post player took over the game after the Golden Knights started slowly against archrival Mercyhurst. The result was a career-high 35 points for Pirosko and a decisive 69-44 victory for the Golden Knights.

In the process, Pirosko moved into the No. 3 spot on Gannon's career scoring list. She moved her career total to 1,924 points, as she climbed past Gannon Hall of Famer Christina Jackson, who scored 1,912 points from 2004-07.

Coach Cleve Wright's Gannon team claimed its 20th win of the season with its 17th consecutive victory. The Golden Knights are 20-1 overall and 12-0 in the PSAC West. Gannon is ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II in the WBCA poll and No. 3 in the D2CSC rankings.

Mercyhurst dropped to 12-5 overall and 8-3 in the PSAC West.

 
CLAXON, PIROSKO LEAD GANNON SURGE

After leading 10-8 through the first quarter, Mercyhurst scored the first four points of the second quarter to take a 14-8 edge. That was the moment when Gannon – and eventually Pirosko – took command of the game.

First, it was sophomore guard Bri Claxon's (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) turn. She connected on a 3-point field goal and then sank a field goal followed by a free throw as she tied the score at 14-14 with 7:44 to go in the half.

Pirosko then scored 12 points during the remainder of the half, sparking a 15-7 run that gave Gannon a 29-21 halftime lead. That gave Pirosko 16 points in the half.
 

PIROSKO POWER

However, Pirosko's best was yet to come in the third quarter.  

She scored 12 consecutive Gannon points to help Gannon take a 41-30 lead. Her 3-pointer with 58 seconds left in the quarter ballooned Gannon's lead to 48-31, and her jumpshot with 8 seconds to go gave the Knights a 50-31 lead going into the fourth quarter.

That gave Pirosko 17 point in the quarter and a career-high-tying 33 points through three periods.

She sank a pair of free throws with 7:29 to go to boost her career high to 35 and give Gannon a 59-31 lead. She left the game with 5:49 to go with Gannon firmly in control.

Pirosko, who stands 5-foot-10, scored in all kinds of ways – twisting drives, spinning post moves and a pair of 3-pointers. She connected on 12-of-18 shots from the field (2-of-3 from 3-point range) and 9-of-10 from the foul line. She also had eight rebounds.

Claxon finished with 13 points, including the key six-point run in the first half.

 
FRESHMAN'S MOMENT

Gannon freshman point guard Tori Mayes (Lake City, Pa./Cathedral Prep) received 13 minutes of playing time on the court where she played her high school ball for Cathedral Prep. She also made a couple of key plays in the crucial second quarter.

With 3:17 left in the half, Mayes made a beautiful pass to Pirosko, who finished the play with a layup for a 23-20 lead.

The next time down the court, Mayes fed a pass to Pirosko again. This time, Pirosko kicked a pass out to an open Mayes, who drained her first collegiate 3-pointer from the right wing to give GU a 26-20 advantage. Her teammates celebrated the moment as if she had hit a game-winning shot.

Mayes also had three rebounds and a steal.
 

WHAT'S AHEAD

Gannon will travel to Johnstown on Saturday to face UPJ at 1 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader.