Carissa Dunham

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

Women's Basketball Tournament Preview: 11th-Ranked Golden Knights to Face Glenville State, Davis & Elkins in Atlantic Region Challenge

GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS (18-11, 11-9 MEC in 2023-24) at No. 11 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
ATLANTIC REGION CHALLENGE
DATE/TIME: Saturday, November 9, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: Hagerty Family Events Center l Erie, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO


DAVIS & ELKINS SENATORS (2-24, 1-19 MEC in 2023-24) at No. 11 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
ATLANTIC REGION CHALLENGE
DATE/TIME: Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: Hagerty Family Events Center l Erie, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO

 
ATLANTIC REGION CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 9
Slippery Rock vs. Davis & Elkins – 1:00 p.m.
GANNON vs. Glenville State – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 10
Slippery Rock vs. Glenville State – 1:00 p.m.
GANNON vs. Davis & Elkins – 3:00 p.m.

THE GANNON-GLENVILLE STATE SERIES
Glenville State leads 3-2 
Gannon and Glenville State have been two of the top teams in the Atlantic Region for a number of year but this will be the first time they meet on the hardcourt since the 2014-15 season. They met for the season-opener that year as well, with Gannon prevailing 94-77 at what was the Hammermill Center. Gannon also won the year before at Glenville State by a 90-84 margin.
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2023– Glenville State 74, at Gannon 70 | RECAP
No. 23 Glenville State held off a Gannon fourth quarter rally for a win in the first round of the Atlantic Region Challenge. The Pioneers led 55-48 after three quarters and extended the lead to nine points with the opening bucket of the quarter. Over the next five minutes the Golden Knights outscored Glenville State 12-2 to take a 60-59 lead with 5:03 remaining. The game was tied at 66-66 with 1:59 left but turnovers would do the Golden Knights in after that as the Pioneers ran off the next seven points to take a 73-66 lead with 35 ticks on the clock. There were three turnovers in that period. Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) led Gannon with her first career double-double, scoring a game-high 17 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Sam Pirosko also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.

THE GANNON-DAVIS & ELKINS SERIES
Gannon leads 6-0 
This marks the first meeting between the two schools since December 2002. The series first began in 1986-87.
Last Meeting: Dec. 14, 2002– at Gannon 99, Davis & Elkins 46 
Kelly Irwin scored 28 points to lead three Golden Knights in double figures. Tiffany Jones added 15 points and Jen Gwin handed out 13 assists.


ERIE, Pa. – Last year the Gannon women's basketball team vaulted into the national rankings after winning three games in Montana in the Division II CCA Tip-Off Tournament. Jump ahead a year and head coach Cleve Wright's team returns from a 3-0 start at the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic last weekend.
 
Now the Golden Knights return home to host the Atlantic Region Challenge on Saturday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10. Standing in the way of a 4-0 start is the same team that handed Gannon one of its three losses a year ago – Glenville State.
 
Gannon and Glenville State square off in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at 3:00 p.m., with Slippery Rock and Davis & Elkins meeting in the opener at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday Slippery Rock and Glenville State play at 1:00 p.m. and Gannon hosts Davis & Elkins at 3:00 p.m. to conclude the two-day tournament.
 
The Post-Pirosko Era had a successful beginning in British Columbia. Gannon held off Dominican (Calif.) 72-67 in the season opener and followed that up with an 82-60 win over Seattle Pacific and 72-60 triumph against St. Edward's.
 
 Gannon came into the 2024-25 season ranked 11th in the WBCA Division II Preseason Top 25 after reaching the Elite Eight and ending the year at 35-3. But consensus All-American and second all-time leading scorer Sam Pirosko has departed, leaving a large gap.
 
Four players ended up earning spots on the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team. Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) and Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) were named to the first team while Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) and Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) earned spots on the second team.
 
Maibach, a redshirt sophomore post player, averaged 10.7 ppg. and 6.3 rpg. Ratliff, a sophomore guard, scored 13.0 ppg. Junior guard Claxon, a returning first team All-PSAC West honoree, is the team's leading scorer after three games at 17.0 ppg. and has made 7-of-13 3-pointers. Wheatley is now adapting to Pirosko's role in the post. The redshirt junior comes in at 9.7 ppg. and 7.7 rpg.
 
Speaking of 3-pointers, Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) made 11-of-23 3-pointers while coming off the bench. The redshirt junior guard is averaging 13.7 ppg.
 
Wright enters the weekend with 397 career victories, three wins shy of 400 for his career. He is in his 21st season as a head coach and in his 17th at the helm of the Golden Knights. His record is a glittery 362-122 at Gannon.
 
Recapping the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic:
No. 11 Gannon 72, Dominican (Calif.) 67 -- Gannon built a 25-point lead at 62-37 heading into the fourth quarter, and still led by 23 points at 67-44 with 5:20 remaining. They then went four minutes without a point and did not make a basket again as Dominican scored 17 straight points to close to 67-61. Clinging to a 69-67 lead Tori Mayes (Lake City, Pa./Cathedral Prep) stepped to the line and made a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to clinch the win. Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) led five players in double figures with 14 points, adding nine rebounds.
 
No. 11 Gannon 82, Seattle Pacific 60 – Gannon outscored Seattle Pacific 26-8 in the second quarter to build another big lead, and this time held the Falcons at bay. Gannon's trademark defense held Seattle Pacific to 34.0 pct. from the floor (17-of-50) and forced 18 turnovers. Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) led four players in double digits with 19 points, and Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) came off the bench to make 5-of-10 3-pointers for 15 points.
 
No. 11 Gannon 72, St. Edward's 60 – the third quarter was the decisive period this time around. Trailing 32-30 at the half Gannon outscored the Hilltoppers 22-8 in the third quarter. St. Edward's did make things a bit interesting in the fourth closing to 61-55 with 2:25 remaining, but Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) answered with a three to end the threat. Claxon ended with a season-high 22 points.
 
Gannon 11th in WBCA Preseason Poll, Preseason Favorite in PSAC West Preseason Poll
Gannon ended the 2023-24 season ranked fourth in the final WBCA Division II Top 25. The preseason poll came out last week with the Golden Knights 11th to begin the year. In addition, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference recently announced its 2023-24 Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, with Gannon the preseason favorite.
 
Scouting Glenville State
Record:  18-11, 11-9 MEC in 2023-24
Head Coach: Emily Stoller (2nd year)
Top Players: Chalon Miles (G / 5-6 / Jr. / 11.9 ppg. / 70 asts.); Dream Cherry (G / 5-2 / Sr. / 9.1 ppg. / 65 3's); Dejaan Schuler (G / 5-9 / 5th / 5.2 ppg.)
After reaching the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2022-23 Glenville State enjoyed another successful year in 2023-24 with Emily Stoller in her first year at the helm. The Pioneers finished at 18-11 a year ago after being upset in the first round of the MEC Tournament. They were picked to finish sixth in the MEC Preseason Poll.
 
Scouting Davis & Elkins
Record:  2-24, 1-19 CIAA in 2023-24
Head Coach: Donna Carr (4th year)
Top Players: Jaela Reid (G/F / 5-11 / Jr. / 7.8 ppg. / 4.0 rpg.); Alexis Smith (G / 5-5 / Sr. / 6.7 ppg. / 53 asts.)
The Senators suffered through a tough two-win season in 2023-24 and have won just 17 games in the last three years. With that in mind head coach Donna Carr will rely on a host of newcomers. D&E was picked to finish 11th in the MEC Preseason Poll.
 
Next for the Golden Knights: Gannon plays a third straight home game on Wednesday, Nov. 18 hosting Daemen at the Hagerty Family Events Center. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Bri Claxon

#12 Bri Claxon

G
5' 7"
Junior
Carissa Dunham

#13 Carissa Dunham

G
5' 7"
Junior
Andrea Maibach

#34 Andrea Maibach

P
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Tori Mayes

#15 Tori Mayes

PG
5' 4"
Sophomore
Kate Ratliff

#23 Kate Ratliff

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Maddy Wheatley

#4 Maddy Wheatley

G
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Freshwater/Marine Biology and Environmental Science

Players Mentioned

Bri Claxon

#12 Bri Claxon

5' 7"
Junior
G
Carissa Dunham

#13 Carissa Dunham

5' 7"
Junior
G
Andrea Maibach

#34 Andrea Maibach

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
P
Tori Mayes

#15 Tori Mayes

5' 4"
Sophomore
PG
Kate Ratliff

#23 Kate Ratliff

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Maddy Wheatley

#4 Maddy Wheatley

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Freshwater/Marine Biology and Environmental Science
G