WB
53
Saginaw Valley SV 1-3,0-0 GLIAC
59
Winner Gannon Gannon 6-1,0-0 PSAC
Saginaw Valley SV
1-3,0-0 GLIAC
53
Final
59
Gannon Gannon
6-1,0-0 PSAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Saginaw Valley SV 11 6 24 12 53
Gannon Gannon 7 17 19 16 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Taylor Brown, Associate Director of Sports Information & Media Relations

No. 7 Women’s Basketball Opens Big Island Holiday Classic With Gritty 59–53 Win Over Saginaw Valley State

Day one of the Big Island Holiday Classic saw the No. 7 Golden Knights grind out a 59–53 victory over Saginaw Valley State, capping a resilient opening performance in Hilo. 

Gannon overcame a slow offensive start, managing just seven first-quarter points and shooting 3-of-16 from the field, and held firm despite the Cardinals' late offensive pushes, including a 24-point third quarter that tied the game and an 8–0 run in the fourth that cut the lead to two.

The Golden Knights secured their sixth win with clutch free throws from Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra), who went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, including 4-for-4 in the final 17 seconds, and finished with a team-high 13 points.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: No. 7 Gannon 59, Saginaw Valley State 53
Records: Gannon 6–1, SVSU 1–3
Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium – Hilo, Hawai'i
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

THE KNIGHT CAP
  • National Recognition: Gannon entered the matchup ranked No. 7 in the latest WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, announced earlier in the day.
  • Wheatley Delivers at the Line: Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) scored a team-high 13 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the line, including four huge makes in the final 17 seconds.
  • Claxon Stays Consistent: Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added 12 points with two threes, plus two steals and a block in a strong two-way showing.
  • Ratliff Steady Again: Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) chipped in 11 points and played a key role in Gannon's second-half offensive response.
  • Popyk Controls the Glass: Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi) posted seven points and a team-high eight rebounds, anchoring the paint.
  • Second-Half Composure: After the game was tied 28–28, Gannon answered with a triple from Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) to fuel the Golden Knight rally.
  • Handling the Late Push: Despite the Cardinals closing to within two, Gannon closed the final 18 seconds on a 4–0 run at the stripe.
  • Rebounding Edge: Gannon won the battle on the boards 42–33, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Up Next
Gannon wraps up its stay in Hilo tomorrow, Wednesday, November 26, when the Golden Knights face host Hawai'i Hilo at 10:00 PM ET in the final game of the Big Island Holiday Classic.
 
This story was written using the support of AI.
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