ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team checked another goal off its list on Wednesday evening in a victory over rival Mercyhurst.

Coach Cleve Wright's team beat the Lakers 60-50 and, in the process, clinched the PSAC Western Division  regular-season title and the No. 1 West seed for the PSAC Tournament. Gannon, which is 27-2 overall,  improved to 19-1 in the PSAC West as it retained a three-game lead over second-place IUP (15-4) with two conference games to play.

Gannon already had clinched a PSAC Tournament first-round bye and a quarterfinal home game on Wednesday, March 6, at the Hagerty Family Events Center.

The Golden Knights also learned on Wednesday that they are one of 10 teams named in the initial NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings. The first regional rankings are alphabetical, and next week's rankings will be numerical. With its 27-2 record and tough schedule, Gannon figures to be a contender for the No. 1 spot in the next rankings.

Not surprisingly, Gannon's All-America post player, Sam Pirosko, led Gannon with 20 points and 13 rebounds on Wednesday.
 

 
Gannon pulls away in 2nd quarter:

The last time Gannon met Mercyhurst on Jan. 24, Pirosko erupted offensively to help the Knights pull away after GU's slow start. Pirosko eventually finished with a career-high 35 points in a 69-44 win at the Hagerty Family Events Center.

Gannon had another slow start on Wednesday as the score was tied 10-10 after one quarter. However, GU dominated the second quarter using a familiar formula – balance and defense.

Seven different players scored as Gannon outscored Mercyhurst 18-7 in the period to take a 28-17 halftime lead.

Pirosko scored four of those points, while sophomore guards Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) and Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) each hit a 3-pointer. Olivia Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland), McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro), Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne), and Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) also scored a basket apiece as Gannon shot 8-of-12 from the field for 66.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Gannon's defense limited the Lakers to 16.7 percent shooting (2-of-12) in the second quarter and the Hurst shot just 21.4 percent in the half.

 
Mercyhurst makes a run:

Gannon controlled the second half, building its lead to as many as 17 points at 55-38 when Claxon hit a layup with 3:19 to go.

However, Mercyhurst was not done. The Lakers scored 13 consecutive points over the next 2:39 as it closed the margin 55-50 with 40 seconds to play.

Gannon sealed it in the closing seconds as Pirosko and Ratliff each sank two free throws and Cernuto made one foul shot to secure the win.

 
By the numbers:

• Claxon finished with 12 points. Wheatley scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and she connected on her only two 3-point attempts.
• Pirosko boosted her career total to 2,090 points, and she now trails Gannon's No. 2 career scorer, Kristin Roseberry (2,147) by 57 points. Rona Nesbit is the career leader with 2,340 points.
• Pirosko has now scored in double digits in 62 consecutive games. The 5-foot-10 post player also had her ninth double-double of the season as she tied her career high with 13 rebounds.
• Gannon outrebounded Mercyhurst 39-25, including 34-22 on the defensive end. The Lakers had just three offensive rebounds.
• Mercyhurst dropped to 16-9 overall and 12-7 in the PSAC West.

 
What's ahead:

Gannon will play its last home game of the regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Knights host Pitt-Johnstown at Hagerty Family Events Center. GU will close the regular season at Seton Hill on March 2.