Jordan Popyk vs. SRU
Mike Gallagher
55
Slippery Rock SRU 7-9,4-6 PSAC
80
Winner Gannon Gannon 16-3,8-2 PSAC
Slippery Rock SRU
7-9,4-6 PSAC
55
Final
80
Gannon Gannon
16-3,8-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Slippery Rock SRU 12 12 16 15 55
Gannon Gannon 22 20 20 18 80

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Return to Highmark Events Center with Impressive 80-55 Win over Slippery Rock

Freshman Jordan Popyk records first double-double

ERIE, Pa. – A much-improved Slippery Rock women's basketball team  probably never stood a chance on Wednesday night. Gannon was coming off a disappointing loss at Edinboro on Saturday, and it was a Gold Out Night.
 
Did we mention the Golden Knights were playing at the newly-refurbished Highmark Events Center for the first time since December 19, 2023? After playing for the last 13 months at Cathedral Prep's Hagerty Family Events Center Gannon returned to its on-campus homecourt.
 
That left the Golden Knights with plenty of motivation to perform well in front of a large crowd that filed into the Highmark Events Center early in the evening. The end result – Gannon never trailed while handing Slippery Rock an 80-55 loss. Gannon has now won 14 of the last 15 meetings with The Rock.
 
The loss at Edinboro dropped Gannon into a tie for 16th in the WBCA Div. II Top 25 and 17th in the D2CSC poll. Wednesday's victory boosted the Golden Knights to 16-3 overall and 8-2 in the PSAC West. SRU is now 7-9 and 4-6, respectively.
 
After getting hammered on the boards at Edinboro the Golden Knights were the dominant team on the glass on Wednesday, outrebounding SRU 55-32. Leading the way was freshman Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi), who finished with her first career double-double with 16 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. She led four players in double figures.
 
As always, head coach Cleve Wright's team played its trademark stingy defense, limiting Slippery Rock to 31.7 percent shooting from the floor (19-of-60) and 55 points. That's the tenth time Gannon has held an opponent under 60 points.
 
Gannon now gets a bit of a break as the Golden Knights have a bye on Saturday and don't again for a week until Pitt-Johnstown visits the Highmark Events Center on January 22.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back. For the record Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) scored the first basket at the New Highmark Events Center. Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) followed with a fastbreak layup before Claxon drained a 3-pointer.
 
The lead quickly grew to 22-8 with just over a minute remaining in the quarter as Gannon had another 7-0 run. SRU closed to 22-12 after one quarter.
 
Gannon started the second quarter with a 9-2 run as the lead grew to 31-14 less than three minutes into the quarter. SRU never pulled closer than 14 points as Gannon led 42-24 at the half and 62-40 after three periods.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
On Saturday Gannon suffered through its worst shooting day of the season at Edinboro finishing at 26.6 percent. Playing on their homecourt once again they made 50.0 percent of their shots in the first half and ended the day at 45.1 percent (32-of-71). That included 8-of-26 on 3-pointers and a perfect 8-for-8 at the line. Defensively the Golden Knights limited SRU to31.7 percent (19-of-60, going 4-of-21 on 3-pointers, along with 13-of-23 at the line.
 
Gannon held a wide 55-32 advantage on the glass with 17 offensive rebounds. The Golden Knights committed 19 turnovers to 15 for SRU.
 
Freshman Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi) enjoyed her top game of the season with her first career double-double. The 6-foot-2 center posted season-highs of 16 points and 14 rebounds, making 6-of-10 field goals, including 2-of-3 3-pointers, along with 2-of-2 at the line.
 
Popyk was one of four players in double figures as 11 different players scored. Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) joined Popyk as the game's leading score with 16 points, making 6-of-7 field goals and both 3-point attempts. She added seven rebounds.
 
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) got off to a fast start and finished 13 points on a 6-of-8 shooting effort, along with five assists, a pair of blocks, and a steal. Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) had 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
Tori Mayes (Lake City, Pa./Cathedral Prep) started at point guard and played a huge role while not even taking a shot. The sophomore played 19 minutes and had five rebounds and two assists while pushing the tempo and playing strong defense all night. 
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