Tori Mayes vs. UPJ
41
Pitt.-Johnstown Pitt-J 2-17,0-12 PSAC
66
Winner Gannon Gannon 17-3,9-2 PSAC
Pitt.-Johnstown Pitt-J
2-17,0-12 PSAC
41
Final
66
Gannon Gannon
17-3,9-2 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Pitt.-Johnstown Pitt-J 2 15 15 9 41
Gannon Gannon 14 17 18 17 66

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

Gannon Pulls Away from UPJ Thanks to Suffocating Defense, Wheatley Double-Double

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team rode a stifling defense and Maddy Wheatley's (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) first career double-double to post a 66-41 win over Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday night. The game was the second for the Golden Knights at the renovated Highmark Events Center.
 
Gannon came into the game ranked 12th in the D2CSC Div. II Top 25 and 15th in the WBCA poll. The victory boosts the Golden Knights to 17-3 overall and 9-2 in the PSAC West. UPJ dropped to 2-17 and remained winless in conference action at 0-12.
 
Despite never trailing in the game and the lopsided final score the Golden Knights found themselves battling to put away the Mountain Cats. Midway through the third period the lead was just seven points but Gannon went on a 12-2 run to blow open the game. The Golden Knights led 49-32 after three quarters then outscored UPJ 17-9 over the final ten minutes.
 
Gannon came in as one of the top defensive teams in Division II and didn't do anything to change that on Wednesday. They limited UPJ to 29.4 percent shooting (15-of-51) and also dominated the glass to the tune of 50-26.
 
Wheatley, meanwhile, recorded her first career double-double while finishing with 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
 
Gannon now looks forward to a showdown at fifth-ranked Seton Hill on Saturday. The Griffins held off Edinboro on Wednesday 73-67 to improve to 17-1 and 11-0 in PSAC action. Tipoff is 1:00 p.m.     
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon jumped out to a 14-2 lead after one quarter, holding the Mountain Cats to 1-of-13 shooting in the opening period. The Golden Knights opened the second quarter with a pair of free throws by Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) to boost the lead to 16-2.
 
The lead remained at 14 points at 31-17 at the half but the Mountain Cats slowly climbed back into the game in the third quarter. Gannon built the lead to 33-17 on two Wheatley free throws but UPJ ran off the next nine points and Gannon's lead was suddenly just 33-26 with 5:27 remaining.
 
Two minutes later the lead was still just 36-28 before Gannon had its own run of nine points in a row. Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) started things with a leaning jumper in the paint and after a UPJ turnover. Wheatley scored on a layup. Harris' layup gave Gannon a 42-28 lead and Olivia Cernuto (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) capped the run with a 3-point play to make it 45-28. Harris' two free throws in the final seconds gave Gannon a 49-32 lead after three quarters.
 
Gannon outscored UPJ 17-9 in the final period holding the Mountain Cats to three baskets in 14 shots.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
The bone-chilling temperatures outside led to some cold shooting inside the Highmark Events Center. Gannon ended the night at 39.7 percent (23-of-58) but the defense limited UPJ to 29.4 percent (15-of-51). Gannon made 4-of-17 3-pointers and UPJ 3-of-19 while the Golden Knights were 16-of-24 at the line and UPJ 8-of-12.
 
Gannon dominated the glass outrebounding the Mountain Cats 50-26. They limited UPJ to just five offensive rebounds. Five different players pulled down at least five rebounds.
  
The 41 points allowed by Gannon marked the 11th time this season the Golden Knights have held an opponent under 60 points and the seventh time under 50 points.
 
Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) led a trio of Golden Knights in double figures with 16 points, adding a career-high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. The redshirt junior post player made 5-of-9 field goals and was 6-of-8 at the line, adding a pair of steals.
 
Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added 13 points making 3-of-5 3-pointers while adding five rebounds. Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Central) came off the bench to contribute 11 points and a pair of steals in 17 minutes.
 
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) added nine points, five rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocked shots.
 
 
Print Friendly Version