ERIE, Pa. – Another win for the Gannon women's basketball team.

Another tremendous defensive effort.

And another personal mark for super senior Sam Pirosko.

Coach Cleve Wright's Golden Knights held the Pitt-Johnstown basketball team to 34 points and just 21 percent shooting as the No. 4/5 Gannon defeated the Mountain Cats 58-34 in the regular-season home finale at Hagerty Family Events Center on Sunday afternoon. The Knights rank first in the PSAC in defensive scoring, allowing 51.5 points per game. That also ranks fourth in NCAA Division II.

Gannon, which already had clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Division for the upcoming PSAC Tournament, improved to 20-1 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights will host a PSAC quarterfinal game against a team to be determined as part of a playoff doubleheader with the Gannon men on Wednesday, March 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hagerty Family Events Center.

Meanwhile, Pirosko set a career high with 16 rebounds on Sunday, breaking the mark of 13 that she had accomplished several times. The 5-foot-10 post player also finished with 11 points as she scored in double figures for the 63rd consecutive game and recorded her 10th double-double of the season.

 
First-half defense:

Gannon's pressure defense caused problems for Pitt-Johnstown throughout the first half.

After leading 11-7 through the first quarter, the Golden Knights outscored the Mountain Cats 16-3 in the second quarter to take a 27-10 halftime lead.

Remarkably, Gannon limited UPJ to just two field goals in the first half while holding the Cats to just 8.7 percent shooting (2-of-23) from the field in the half.

UPJ trimmed the lead to 34-20 with 3:16 left in the third quarter, but Gannon remained firmly in control as the Mountain Cats never got closer than 14 points in the second half.

 
By the numbers:

• McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro) led Gannon with 13 points, and she added seven rebounds. The 6-foot-2 post player scored 11 points in the first half to help GU take command.
• Sophomore guard Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added 11 points for GU.
• This was the fifth time this season that Gannon held a team under 40 points. The Knights gave up a season-low to Bloomsburg in a 75-31 win on Dec. 1.
• Gannon ranks fifth in NCAA Division II in scoring margin. The Knights' average 19.6 margin per game against their opponents.
• Pirosko ranks third in the Gannon history with 2,101 career points with at least two games to play. She now has 836 rebounds.

 

Benim honored:

Senior guard Ali Benim (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) received a high Gannon honor after the game when she was named the female winner of the Rand Garrity Sportsmanship Award, in memory of a longtime Gannon employee and basketball fan.

Nigel Haughton was the male winner of the award.

Rand Garrity's granddaughter, Paige Garrity, was on hand for the award presentation.

 
What's ahead:

Gannon will have a bye on Wednesday when other PSAC teams will compete. The Golden Knights will conclude the regular season on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Seton Hill.
The NCAA will release the first numeric regional rankings on Wednesday, and Gannon will be a strong contender for the No. 1 spot.