ERIE, Pa. – When the Gannon women's basketball team is making shots, particularly from long range, the Golden Knights look every bit like a Top-5 team in NCAA Division II.

That was definitely the case on Wednesday night when four different Gannon players connected on 3-point field goals in the first quarter as the Golden Knights rolled to an early 14-point lead over Slippery Rock.

The Knights only expanded the lead from there as Gannon rolled to an 85-45 victory over SRU at the Hagerty Family Events Center. Coach Cleve Wright's Gannon team moved to 25-2 overall and improved its first-place record to 17-1 in the PSAC West.

With four games to play in the regular season, Gannon has clinched a first-round bye in the PSAC Tournament as well as a quarterfinal home game.  The Knights are ranked No. 5 in one NCAA Division II poll and No. 6 in the other poll.

The Golden Knights had balanced scoring and played outstanding all-around basketball even though they were coming off a 53-52 loss to IUP on Saturday that ended their 21-game winning streak.
 

Shooting touch

Gannon had been struggling with its shooting in the previous two games, making just 32.7 percent (40-of-122) from the field and 13 percent (5-of-38) from 3-point territory.

However, that quickly became a distant memory as Gannon sank four 3-point field goals in the first quarter and took an early 17-3 lead on the way to a 19-9 advantage after one period.

Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) got the Knights started with a 3-point field goal just 41 seconds into the game. Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) followed with another 3 as Gannon led 9-0 early. Post players McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) and Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) added 3-point field goals later in the half as Gannon grabbed the 17-3 lead.

SRU's Kristina Donza banked in a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to trim the deficit to 19-9.

In the second quarter, Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) and Ratliff also connected from long range as GU led 41-18 at the half.

The 3-point barrage continued in the second half as Gannon pulled away.

 
By the numbers:

• Sam Pirosko finished with 10 points, and she tied a Gannon record. She made her 132nd career appearance, tying Sydney Mitchell for the top spot in program history. Pirosko's high scoring was not needed as Gannon placed five total players in double figures.
• Ratliff and Maibach led the 3-point parade with a trio of 3-pointers each. Nine players had at least one 3-pointer for the Knights.
• Claxon led five players in double figures with 16 points. She had a perfect shooting night, finishing 6-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point territory, and 2-of-2 from the foul line.
• Ratliff's 14-point effort topped her 12-point game on Jan. 31 against Seton Hill.
• Maibach closed the game with 11 points, a team-high six rebounds and four assists. Nation had 10 points.
• Freshman Olivia Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) led Gannon with five assists and three steals.
• Gannon shot 54.4 percent (31-of-57) from the field.

 

What's ahead:

Gannon will host Clarion on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Hagerty Family Events Center.