Trinitee Harris vs. SRU
Mike Gallagher

Women's Basketball Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Host IUP in Another Key PSAC West Contest

INDIANA (PA) CRIMSON HAWKS (15-4, 10-3 PSAC West) at No. 11/7 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (20-4, 12-3 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
HOMECOURT/LOCATION: Highmark Events Center l Erie, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO

HALL OF FAME AND ALUMNI APPRECIATION DAY
On Saturday night Gannon will enshrine eight new members into the Athletics Hall of Fame along with the Distinguished Service recipients. Those individuals will be honored on Saturday and it is also Alumni Appreciation Day. The women's basketball team hosts its annual Alumni Game on Saturday morning.
 
THE GANNON-IUP SERIES
Gannon leads 28-23
Gannon has won four of the last five meetings vs. the Crimson Hawks after handing IUP a 61-54 defeat in the first meeting at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.
Last Meeting:  Jan. 8, 2025 – Gannon 61, at Indiana (Pa.) 54 I RECAP
Gannon outscored IUP 37-19 in the second half after trailing by 11 points at the half. The Golden Knights ended the game on an 8-0 run. Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) gave Gannon the lead for good with 1:13 left to play and Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) followed with four straight free throws. IUP shot 50 percent in the first half but made just 7-of-23 shots (30.4 pct.) in the second. Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) led Gannon with 28 points.
 

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday with a 66-53 loss to Edinboro. Despite the loss the Golden Knights clinched a berth in the upcoming PSAC Tournament. Gannon suffered its first home loss since Nov. 10, 2024 vs. Glenville State. The Golden Knights had run off 28 straight wins at home since then.
 
The Golden Knights face another key conference clash on Saturday, February 8 hosting Indiana (Pa.) at 1:00 p.m. at the Highmark Events Center. The Crimson Hawks are c15-4 overall and 10-3 in the Western Division. They come in well rested, last playing on January 29.
 
Gannon has now made the PSAC Tournament in seven straight full seasons (the PSAC did not hold the tournament in 2020-21). But head coach Cleve Wright's team has higher aspirations with the Western Division set to host the PSAC Final Four. The division is hotly-contested at the top with Seton Hill and Edinboro tied for first at 13-2, Gannon third at 12-3 and IUP sitting at 10-3.
 
Earlier in the week Gannon climbed to 11th in the latest WBCA Div. II Top 25 and remained seventh in the D2CSC rankings. The Golden Knights have done so riding a strong defense. Gannon leads the PSAC and is 23rd in Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 55.9 ppg. In addition they also pace the conference and are 13th nationally in field goal percentage defense. (34.5 pct.).
 
Gannon has won five straight games since the loss at Edinboro and reached 20 wins for the fifth straight full season (not counting the shortened 2020-21 COVID season) on Saturday with a 61-56 win at California (Pa.). Now 20-3, the Golden Knights outscored the Vulcans 11-1 over the final three minutes.
 
The Edinboro game is the second of a stretch of three straight games against top teams in the Western Division. All in eight days. During the same stretch in January the Golden Knights were able to defeat Cal and Indiana (Pa.) but lost at Edinboro. IUP visits the Highmark Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 8.
 
A year ago Gannon rode the tremendous talents of All-American Sam Pirosko, aided by a solid supporting cast, to an appearance in the Elite Eight. It seems like this year's team has featured a different star every game. Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) stepped recently against Seton Hill, and Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) has rediscovered her 3-point shot. Despite taking a beating every game Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) has come on, and All-PSAC performer Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) has been a constant.
 
But one thing continues to stand out year-in and year-out. – defense. Head coach Cleve Wright demands strong defense and this year's team has listened. Gannon leads the PSAC and is 28th in Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 56.3 ppg. In addition they are second in the conference and are 20th nationally in field goal percentage defense. (35.0 pct.).
 
Saturday's game marks the final home game in the month of February for the Golden Knights. Their next three contests are on the road before returning home for the final regular season game on Saturday, March 1 vs. Seton Hill.

The Knight Watch:
Record:  20-4, 12-3 PSAC West
Head Coach: Cleve Wright (17th year at Gannon, 21st overall)
Top Players: Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) (G, 5-7, Jr., 15.8 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 44-of-107 3's, 48 asts., 32 stls.); Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) (G, 6-0, So., 12.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 35 stls., 26 blks.); Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) (P, 5-11, R-Jr., 11.0 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 27-of-64 3's); Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) (G, 5-7, Jr., 7.7 ppg., 48-of-130 3's)
  • Gannon saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday with a 66-53 loss to Edinboro. It also snapped a run of 28 straight wins at home. There was good news on the evening, however, as the Golden Knights clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament for the seventh straight full season (the PSAC did not have a tournament in 2020-21).
  • Prior to Wednesday's loss head coach Cleve Wright's team controlled its own destiny. With the Western Division hosting the PSAC Final Four this year the Golden Knights needed to win out to claim the top seed. The Edinboro setback leaves the Golden Knights in third place in the division with a 12-3 record along with a 20-4 overall record. They still sit just a game out of first place after Seton Hill lost to California (Pa.) on Wednesday. Now Gannon hosts an IUP team that has aspirations of its own of winning the PSAC West with a 10-3 record and 15-4 overall. 
  • The Golden Knights climbed to seventh in the D2CSC Div. II Top 25 and 11th in the WBCA rankings.
  • Edinboro was able to do something few teams have done this year – shoot well against the Golden Knights. The Fighting Scots shot an even 50.0 percent from the floor (21-of-42) and was a sizzling 10-of-14 from beyond the arc. Lock Haven is the only other team this season to shoot 50.0 percent from the floor, and that was also exactly 50.0 percent. The 66 points represent just the fifth time in the last 14 games that a team has reached 60 points in a game. The Golden Knights rank first in the PSAC and 28th in Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 56.3 ppg. In addition they are second in the conference and 20th nationally in field goal percentage defense. (35.0 pct.). Gannon has held seven opponents to under 50 points and 13 to under 60 points.
  • The Edinboro game produced one amazing statistic. Gannon went to the line just once the entire game, with Kat Ratliff making one-of-two free throws midway through the third quarter. Edinboro was 14-of-20.  Oddly enough, that's the third time this year Gannon has attempted just two free throws in a game and the seventh time with less than 10 free throws attempted.
  • Bri Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) leads a trio of Golden Knights averaging in double figures. The 5-foot-7 guard is averaging 15.8 ppg. and has made 44-of-107 3-pointers. The junior also paces the team in assists (48) and is second in steals (32). Claxon was a first team All-PSAC West selection a year ago. 
  • Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) recorded her second double-double of the season and third of her career at Cal. The 6-foot-0 sophomore is averaging 12.7 ppg. and 4.7 rpg. while leading the team in blocked shots (26) and steals (35).
  • Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) is a third Golden Knight in double digits at 11.0 ppg. The redshirt junior adds a team-best 5.5 rpg. and has made 27-of-64 3-pointers.
Scouting Indiana (Pa.)
Record:  15-4, 10-3 PSAC West
Head Coach: Craig Carey (3rd year)
Top Players: Nyshae' Weaver (F, 6-0, Jr., 14.9 ppg., 10.9 rpg., 24 stls.); Shamia Strayhorn (G, 5-8, Sr., 14.7 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 41 asts., 34 stls., 16-of-69 3's); Ellie Wilkerson (G/F, 5-9, Jr., 10.2 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 15 blks., 24 stl.)
  • Indiana (Pa.) was picked to finish third in the PSAC West preseason poll after finishing with a 21-8 record and earning a berth in the Atlantic Regional. The Crimson Hawks got off to a fast start with nine straight victories but have since gone 6-4. They have not played since January 29 when California (Pa.) handed them a 77-63 defeat. That leaves IUP at 15-4 and 10-3 in league play.
  • Nyshae' Weaver leads the Crimson Hawks in both scoring and rebounding. The 6-foot-0 junior is averaging 14.9 ppg. and 10.9 rpg., the latter figure good for fourth in the PSAC. The former Alderson Broaddus transfer is second in the conference in field goal percentage at 63.2 percent. She was a second team All-PSAC West selection a year ago.
  • Shamia Strayhorn, another transfer from Wheeling, adds 14.7 ppg. with 41 assists and a team-high 34 steals.
  • Ellie Wilkerson, 5-foot-9 junior, is a third Crimson Hawk performer in double figures. The Georgetown College transfer is averaging 10.2 ppg.
Next for the Golden Knights: After playing back-to-back games at home Gannon is on the road for the next three games. The stretch begins on Wednesday, February 12 with a game at Slippery Rock. Gannon does not return home again until Saturday, March 1 hosting seton Hill in the final regular season game.
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Bri Claxon

#12 Bri Claxon

G
5' 7"
Junior
Carissa Dunham

#13 Carissa Dunham

G
5' 7"
Junior
Kate Ratliff

#23 Kate Ratliff

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Maddy Wheatley

#4 Maddy Wheatley

G
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Freshwater/Marine Biology and Environmental Science

Players Mentioned

Bri Claxon

#12 Bri Claxon

5' 7"
Junior
G
Carissa Dunham

#13 Carissa Dunham

5' 7"
Junior
G
Kate Ratliff

#23 Kate Ratliff

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Maddy Wheatley

#4 Maddy Wheatley

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Freshwater/Marine Biology and Environmental Science
G