ERIE, Pa. –  Gannon standout Sam Pirosko reached a career milestone on a night when she helped the Golden Knights escape with a win over a local rival.

Pirosko scored her 2,000th career point as she poured in a game-high 27 points while lifting the Knights to a 57-54 victory over Edinboro on Wednesday evening at the Hagerty Family Events Center.

Coach Cleve Wright's team claimed its 21st consecutive victory as the No. 2/3-ranked Gannon improved to 24-1 overall and 16-0 in the PSAC West. The 21-game winning streak is the second-longest in school history.

Pirosko, a sixth-year senior (with a redshirt year and COVID year), entered the game needing five points to reach 2,000.  With 7:35 remaining in the second quarter, she made the first of two free throws as she became the third player in Gannon history to hit the milestone.

Congrats to Gannon senior Sam Pirosko, who just became the third women's basketball player in Gannon history to score 2,000 points in a career.
?@GannonWBB? ?@GannonU? pic.twitter.com/ObNT3qklih

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) February 7, 2024

She finished the game with 2,022 career points. Pirosko trails only Rona Nesbit (2,340 points) and Kristin Roseberry (2,147) in Gannon program history.

Pirosko shot 9-of-17 from the field, including one 3-pointer, and sank 8-of-9 free-throw attempts on Wednesday. But the 5-foot-10 post player can do a lot more than score. She had a double-double with 10 rebounds and added four assists, three blocked shots and two steals.

Gannon led 54-53 with 26 seconds left when Pirosko was fouled. She calmly sank both free throws to give Gannon a 3-point edge. Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) added one free throw with 14 seconds to go, and Gannon made one final defensive stand as Edinboro missed a desperation 3-point attempt in the final seconds.

 

By the numbers:

• Gannon freshman guard Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) had a strong all-around game with nine points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
• Sophomore guard Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) added seven points and nine rebounds. She hit a couple of clutch free throws in the fourth quarter to give Gannon a 52-51 lead.
• Gannon won with defense because the Knights did not shoot well. GU finished at 31.7 percent from the field and 10 percent from 3-point range. However, the Knights shot 15-of-18 from the free-throw line, which was key down the stretch.
• Edinboro dropped to 12-9 and 10-6. The Fighting Scots scored 76 points in a 90-76 loss to Gannon on Jan. 10, but GU turned in a strong defensive Wednesday on a night when the Knights' shooting was off.

 
What's ahead:

Gannon will visit another rival, IUP, on Saturday at 1 p.m.