Bri Claxon vs. D&E
78
Winner Gannon Gannon 12-1,4-0 PSAC
44
Shippensburg Shipp 3-6,1-3 PSAC
Winner
Gannon Gannon
12-1,4-0 PSAC
78
Final
44
Shippensburg Shipp
3-6,1-3 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gannon Gannon 21 17 20 20 78
Shippensburg Shipp 10 9 5 20 44

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

Gannon Wins Third Game in a Row with 78-44 Win at Shippensburg

Claxon scores 22 points to lead the way

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) scored 22 points to lead Gannon to a 78-44 win at Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights, ranked sixth in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and tied for 14th in the D2CSC poll, have now won three straight games to improve to 12-1. They are 4-0 in PSAC action. Shippensburg dropped to 3-6 and 1-3, respectively.

Gannon never trailed in the contest as they once again turned in a suffocating defensive performance. Shippensburg shot just 22.2 percent from the floor (12-of-54) while Gannon came in at a season-high 53.6 percent (30-of-56). Gannon has held its last three opponents to under 30 percent from the floor.

The Shippensburg game wrapped up a four-game road swing for the Golden Knights. They will now break for final exams before returning to action on Tuesday, December 17 hosting Shepherd. After that the 2024 portion of the schedule wraps up with a rematch of last year's PSAC championship game as the Golden Knights play at Lock Haven on Saturday, December 21.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon never trailed in the contest after Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) hit a pullup jumper 28 seconds into the game. The Golden Knights would score the first nine points of the game, with Claxon hitting another jumper before Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) scored the next five points on a 3-pointer and layup. Gannon led 9-0 at the 6:27 mark before the Raiders finally scored on a 3-pointer at 6:14.

Shippensburg closed to 13-8 with 4:19 left in the first quarter before Gannon went on an 8-0 run. Claxon scored on a jumper following a turnover, and Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) scored on a layup. The sophomore was making her first appearance after missing the last two games and xx of the last xx with an injury. Mia Slater (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar School) provided the next four points for a 21-8 lead at 1:29.

Gannon took a 38-19 lead at the half. The Golden Knights scored the final six points of the half while holding Shippensburg scoreless over the final 4 minutes, 52 seconds. The Raiders missed their last eight shots and went 5-for-25 in the first half.

Any hopes of a comeback by Shippensburg were foiled with a strong defensive third quarter. The Raiders made just two baskets in 16 attempts while Gannon was 6-of-12. The Golden Knights led 58-24 after three quarters.

BY THE NUMBERS
Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) continued her run towards 1,000 career points with a game-high 22 points. It's the junior's fifth game with 20-or-more points. She now has 992 career points and will look to become the 32nd Golden Knight with 1,000 points when Gannon hosts Shepherd on Tuesday, December 17. Claxon made 10-of-13 shots, including 2-of-3 3-pointers, along with handing out three assists.

Backcourt mate Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) joined Claxon in double figures as ten players scored. The junior finished with 14 points, making 4-of-8 3-pointers. Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) added nine points while playing 15 minutes. Freshman Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi) enjoyed the finest game of her young career with eight points and seven rebounds.  

Gannon limited Shippensburg to 44 points and 22.2 percent shooting from the floor, as the Raiders made 12-of-54 attempts. They were 4-of-13 on 3-pointers and 16-of-19 at the line. Gannon has held its last three opponents to 52 points or less and less than 30 percent shooting from the floor

The Golden Knights shot a season-high 53.6 percent from the floor (30-of-56), including 8-of-20 on 3-pointers. After going to the line just twice in each of the last two games and just once in the first half the Golden Knights ended the day 10-of-12 at the line.

Gannon held a 39-30 advantage on the glass. The Golden Knights were guilty of 12 turnovers while forcing 14.

NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon returns to action following final exams on Tuesday, December 17 hosting Shepherd. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
 
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