ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team hasn't spent a lot of time behind in the scored this season.

On Saturday, with their season on the line, the Golden Knights proved that the  can rally from a big deficit.

The No. 1-seeded Knights trailed by 13 points in the first quarter on Friday before steadying themselves and earning a 73-53 victory over No. 8 West Virginia State in the Atlantic Regional quarterfinals at Hagerty Family Events Center.

Coach Cleve Wright's Knights improved to 33-2 on the season and advanced to the Atlantic Regional semifinals against Lock Haven on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Hagerty Family Events Center. Lock Haven defeated California (Pa.) 74-60 in the first game of the day at the Gannon-hosted portion of the regional.




Comeback needed:

The Golden Knights have been ahead for most of the season as they have won the PSAC West and PSAC Tournament and risen in the national rankings. However, the Knights found themselves in very unfamiliar territory on Friday when they struggled to break West Virginia State's press and quickly fell behind 21-8 and 23-10 with 1:52 left in the first quarter.

That's when the Yellow Jackets' run stopped.

McKel Nation (Lebanon, Ohio/Springboro), Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster), and Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) hit consecutive layups to trim WVSU's lead to 23-16 going into the second quarter.

That unleashed a full Gannon barrage in the second quarter. The Golden Knights outscored the Jackets 23-8 in the second quarter for a 39-31 halftime lead, to the delight of a large and loud crowd of Gannon fans at Hagerty Family Events Center.

That meant the Knights closed the half with a 29-8 run.

Gannon kept the pressure on in the third quarter, extending its lead to 56-37 going into the final period. GU limited WVSU to 14 points combined in the second and third quarters.
 

By the numbers:

In the semifinals and title game of the PSAC Tournament, senior Sam Pirosko scored 40 and 32 points, respectively, to lead the Knights to the title. Gannon didn't need Pirosko to do it again on Friday.

• The Golden Knights had a balanced scoring attack led by the 17 points of Pirosko and Claxon. Nation was next with 16 points, while Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) added 11.
• Pirosko led Gannon with nine rebounds and four steals, as Wright praised his star's defense in the postgame press conference.
• Pirosko now has 2,215 career points and has scored in double digits in 68 consecutive games.
• Gannon was won nine games in a row, the team's second-longest winning streak of the season. The Golden Knights won 21 in a row earlier this season.
• Gannon is 16-1 at home this season but has won 16 in a row. The Golden Knights lost their home opener to Glenville State 74-70 on Nov. 10. They have won 11 in a row since moving to Hagerty Family Events Center in January.
• West Virginia State guard Destiny Fields was sensational in defeat. She scored a game-high 18 points with an array of silky moves.

 

What's ahead:

Gannon will face Lock Haven on Saturday at 5 p.m., with tickets going on sale at the doors at 4 p.m. at Hagerty Events Center. GU defeated LHU 80-65 last weekend in the PSAC championship game. No. 2 Fairmont State and No. 3 Fayetteville State are the other remaining teams in the Atlantic Regional. They will meet today at 7 p.m. at Fairmont State.