Kate Ratliff vs. Cal
Joe Mattis
69
Winner Gannon Gannon 22-5,14-4 PSAC
58
Clarion Clar 13-13,7-11 PSAC
Winner
Gannon Gannon
22-5,14-4 PSAC
69
Final
58
Clarion Clar
13-13,7-11 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gannon Gannon 12 14 23 20 69
Clarion Clar 14 20 12 12 58

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

Ratliff Powers Gannon to Comeback Win at Clarion

Golden Knights open third quarter with 15-0 run

CLARION, Pa. – The Gannon women's basketball team made it 17 straight wins over Clarion on Saturday afternoon, but the victory at Tippin Gymnasium certainly wasn't easy. The Golden Knights prevailed 69-58 to improve to 22-5 overall and 14-4 in the PSAC West. Clarion suffered its third straight loss while dropping to 13-13 and 7-11, respectively.
 
The Golden Knights trailed for most of the first half and faced a 34-26 deficit at the half. Whatever head coach Cleve Wright said at halftime was magical as Gannon roared out of the locker room to score the first 15 points of the third quarter.
 
Gannon never trailed after taking the lead early in the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles were still within striking distance late in the game. That's when old reliable – defense – stepped up.
 
A Clarion layup cut Gannon's lead to 61-57 with 4:31 remaining. That would be the last basket the Golden Eagles would score as Gannon closed the game on an 8-1 run. Clarion missed its final five shots.
 
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) turned in a huge game for the Golden Knights, finishing with team highs of 26 points and eight rebounds.
 
Gannon now has a week off before returning to action on Saturday, February 22 wrapping up a three-game road trip at Pitt-Johnstown.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A foul-infested first half saw both teams shoot poorly and both teams go to the free throw line 18 times. Gannon managed just five field goals in 20 shots (25.0 pct.) while making 16-of-18 from the charity stripe. Clarion wasn't much better at 8-of-23 (34.8 pct.) while making 15-of-18 free throws.
 
The first two quarters ended with Clarion holding a 34-26 lead. It featured seven ties and five lead changes.
 
Gannon regained the lead in the third quarter at 35-34 on a Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) steal and layup at the 6:28 mark. It was all part of a 15-0 run to open the quarter as the Golden Knights pulled ahead 41-34 on a Ratliff 3-pointer with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter. Ratliff had the final eight points of the runs.
 
Clarion finally found the scoreboard in the third quarter with 4:35 left on a free throw by Autumn Taylor. To the Golden Eagles credit they would pull to within 49-46 at the end of the quarter as Gannon outscored Clarion 21-12.
 
Taylor's 3-pointer on the first possession of the fourth quarter knotted the score at 49-49. Gannon countered with the next eight points to gain control. Jordan Popyk's (Novi, Mich./Novi) layup gave Gannon the lead for good at 51-49 and Taylor Ethridge (Chesapeake, Va./Catholic) followed with a pair of free throws. Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) added a layup and Etheridge capped the run with a jumper off a steal from Ratliff. That made it 57-49 with 6:54 to play.
 
Clarion refused to go away and was still within striking distance at 61-57 with 4:31 remaining. But that was Clarion's last basket, as Gannon scored eight of the final points in the game. The Golden Eagles missed their final five shots and scored a lone free throw.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) enjoyed one of the finest games of her career to lead the Golden knights. The 6-foot-0 sophomore scored 26 points, pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, and had four steals and a block. She made 8-of-12 field goals, including a 3-pointer, and was 9-for-9 at the line.
 
Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi) was the other Golden Knight in double figures as the freshman scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) had five points while battling foul trouble. Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) contributed eight points, five rebounds and six assists. Tori Mayes (Lake City, Pa./Cathedral Prep) added a career-high seven points, making 5-of-6 from the line.
 
After making just 5-of-20 shots in the first half the Golden Knights heated up in the second half, going 16-of-27 from the floor. They would finish the game at 44.7 percent (21-of-47), going 2-for-13 from beyond the arc. Gannon went 25-of-29 at the line. Clarion was held to 31.3 percent from the floor (15-of-48), going 5-of-24 on 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles were 23-of-28 at the line.
 
Gannon dominated the glass 38-23. The Golden Knights allowed Clarion just four offensive rebounds and the Golden Eagles had just two second chance points. Gannon committed 15 turnovers compared to 10 for Clarion.
 
NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon has a bye on Wednesday and completes a string of three straight road games on Saturday, February 22 at Pitt-Johnstown. Tipoff is 1:00 p.m.
 
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