Bri Claxon vs. SRU
Mike Gallagher
81
Winner Gannon Gannon 21-5,13-4 PSAC
40
Slippery Rock SRU 7-15,4-12 PSAC
Winner
Gannon Gannon
21-5,13-4 PSAC
81
Final
40
Slippery Rock SRU
7-15,4-12 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gannon Gannon 25 13 20 23 81
Slippery Rock SRU 5 9 19 7 40

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

Fast Getaway Leads to 81-40 Win at Slippery Rock

Golden Knights snap two-game losing streak, improve to 21-5

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Gannon snapped a two-game losing streak in impressive fashion on Wednesday night, starting a three-game road trip with an 81-40 win at Slippery Rock. Ranked 23rd in the latest WBCA Div. II Top 25, the Golden Knights improved to 21-5 and 13-4 in the PSAC West while Slippery Rock has now lost seven straight games while falling to 7-15 and 4-12, respectively.

The Golden Knights scored the first 17 points of the game while holding Slippery Rock without a point for almost six minutes to start the game. Gannon ended the first quarter with a 25-5 lead thanks to 11 points from Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster). The junior guard made three 3-pointers in the opening quarter as Gannon went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in the quarter.

Gannon's lead grew to as many as 27 points in the second quarter at 36-9 and at the half the Golden Knights held a 38-14 advantage. After a basically even third quarter Gannon duplicated the first quarter getaway, scoring the first 19 points and holding SRU without a point until the 2:32 mark of the quarter.

Gannon has now held eight opponents to less than 50 points. It marked the fifth time this season the Golden Knights have scored 80-or-more points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon scored the first 17 points of the game while holding Slippery Rock scoreless until almost six minutes had elapsed. SRU came back with the next five points but Gannon then scored the final eight points of the period to lead 25-5 after one quarter.
Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the game and had 11 points in the quarter, making three trifectas in the period. Gannon made 10-of-15 shots in the first quarter, including 5-of-7 3-pointers, while holding The Rock to 2-of-9 field goals with nine turnovers.

Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 3-pointer to make it 11 straight points for Gannon. The Golden Knights built the lead to as much as 27 points at 36-9 when Claxon grabbed a defensive rebound and raced downcourt to hit a pullup jumper in the paint with 2:19 left.

Gannon ended up holding a 38-14 lead at the half. The Golden Knights shot 51.7 percent from the floor, making 8-of-17 3-pointers, while holding SRU to 5-of-22 from the floor (22.7 pct.). Oddly enough, Gannon did not attempt a free throw in the half while The Rock was 2-for-2. Gannon forced 13 turnovers.

At one point in the third quarter Slippery Rock closed to 18 points at 49-31 but the quarter ended with the Golden Knights holding a 58-33 lead thanks to a 9-2 run to close the period.

The fourth quarter began just like the first with Gannon scoring the first 19 points to go ahead 77-33. SRU did not score its first point of the quarter until 2:32 remained in the game.  The 44-point margin was the largest of the game.

BY THE NUMBERS
After a sizzling start to the game Gannon ended up shooting a season-high 54.2 percent for the game (32-of-59), including 11-of-23 on 3-pointers. The 11 3-pointers tied a season high. They made 6-of-7 3-pointers.

The Golden Knights turned in another impressive defensive effort limiting SRU to 14-of-51 from the floor (27.5 pct.). The Rock was 3-of-16 on 3-pointers and made 9-of-11 free throws.

Gannon held a 35-30 advantage on the glass. In addition, the Golden Knights forced 24 turnovers and held a 27-12 edge in points off turnovers. Gannon committed 17 turnovers.

Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) led five players in double figures with 19 points. The sophomore guard made 7-of-14 field goals, including 3-of-6 3-pointers, and was 2-of-2 at the line. She added five steals.

Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added 15 points, 11 of those coming in the telltale first quarter. She was 6-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-7 on three's, and also pulled down nine rebounds. Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) added 13 points and six assists, while Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) came off the bench to contribute 12 points on a 4-for-6 effort from beyond the arc. Mia Slater (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar School) also reached double digits in a reserve role with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. She added five rebounds.

NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon plays the middle game of its three-game road trip on Saturday, February 15 at Clarion. Tipoff is 1:00 p.m. at Tippin Gymnasium.
 
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