Bri Claxon
University of Findlay Athletics
62
Winner Gannon GAN-W 15-1, 7-0 PSAC
61
California (PA) CAL-W 9-4, 4-3 PSAC
Winner
Gannon GAN-W
15-1, 7-0 PSAC
62
Final
61
California (PA) CAL-W
9-4, 4-3 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gannon GAN-W 18 11 21 12 62
California (PA) CAL-W 19 9 15 18 61

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 3/5 Golden Knights Run Win Streak to 12 Games with Thrilling 62-61 Win at California (Pa.)

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The first of two regular season meetings between Gannon and California (Pa.) lived up to expectations with the Golden Knights holding off the Vulcans 62-61 at the Convocation Center in the PSAC West opener. Gannon, ranked third in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and fifth in the D2CSC Media Poll, has now won 12 straight games for the second year in a row to improve to 15-1 overall and 7-0 in the PSAC West.  Cal dipped to 9-4 and 4-3, respectively.

The physical contest was back-and-forth for much of the first half with five ties and six lead changes. At one point Gannon trailed 24-18 early in the second quarter going on an 11-2 run to take the lead for good. The Golden Knights held a narrow 29-28 lead at the half.

Thanks to a 14-6 run to start the third quarter Gannon built its lead to nine points at 43-34 on a pair of Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) free throws midway through the third quarter. Gannon would enter the final ten minutes holding on to a 50-43 advantage.

Gannon still led by eight points at 56-48 when Pirosko made a pair of free throws with just under six minutes to play. That's when Cal began to shave the lead down thanks to offensive rebounds and free throws. The Vulcans made just two field goals in 11 attempts in the fourth quarter, but they attempted 23.

Fortunately for the Golden Knights, they missed nine times from the charity stripe with the last the biggest of all. Clinging to a 60-55 lead in the final minute plus the Vulcans twice went to the line and missed a pair, but they collected the offensive rebound both times. A pair of free throws cut the margin to 60-57 with 57 seconds left.

The two teams exchanged turnovers before a missed 3-pointer by the Golden Knights gave Cal the ball with 19 seconds to play. Cal would miss on a tying 3-point attempt but Nina Shaw was fouled on the rebound. Her two free throws with six seconds remaining cut Gannon's lead to one at 60-59.
With just two team fouls, Cal was forced to foul three times to send Gannon to the line. With three seconds remaining Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) stepped to the line and made a pair for a 62-59 advantage.

Following a Cal timeout to advance the ball to halfcourt, the Vulcan's Sierra Bermudez was fouled while attempting an off-balance 3-pointer. She made the first two, but the third hit the back of the rim, then the front of the rim and rolled off with Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) pulling down the rebound as the horn sounded.

Claxon led all scorers with 20 points, making 6-of-15 field goals, including 2-of-4 3-pointers, and was 6-of-10 at the line. The sophomore guard was making her first career start and has now scored 20-or-more points in four of the last five games.

Samantha Pirosko (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) was also in double figures with 15 points, also going 6-of-15 from the floor with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. She extended her consecutive games in double figures streak to 49 games and now has 1,813 career points. She was one of three Golden Knights to finish with five rebounds.

In addition to Claxon making her first start, Maibach was also in the lineup for the first time. The redshirt freshman replaced leading rebounder McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) and totaled eight points and five rebounds.

After a high-scoring first quarter the defenses took over. Gannon features one of the top defensive units in Division II and limited Cal to 30.5 percent shooting from the floor (18-of-59). Gannon, meanwhile, shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56). Gannon was 5-of-16 from beyond the arc with Cal 3-of-12. The big difference came at the free throw line, with Gannon making 13-of-20 while the Vulcans were 22-of-32.

The action on the glass was intense, with rebounding a priority for the Golden Knights going into the game. Gannon held a 10-rebound edge at the half but Cal did the same in the second half as the rebound battle was a draw – 42-42. Gannon overcame 20 turnovers, just seven coming in the second half, while forcing 15 turnovers.

Cal had three players in double figures, led by Dejah Terrell's 15 points. Allycia Harris led all rebounders with 11 after pulling down 20 in last year's PSAC Championship game.

Gannon returns to action on Wednesday, January 10 with its second straight road game. The Golden Knights will make the short journey down I-79 to play Edinboro. Tipoff at McComb Fieldhouse is 5:30 p.m.
 
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