Maddy Wheatley
Bryce Dolak
73
Winner Indiana (PA) IUP 16-4,11-3 PSAC
66
Gannon Gannon 20-5,12-4 PSAC
Winner
Indiana (PA) IUP
16-4,11-3 PSAC
73
Final
66
Gannon Gannon
20-5,12-4 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Indiana (PA) IUP 8 22 14 29 73
Gannon Gannon 9 23 20 14 66

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

IUP Steals Win from Golden Knights with Fourth Quarter Surge

Wheatley leads Gannon with 21 points

ERIE, Pa. – Indiana (Pa.) outscored Gannon 29-14 in the fourth quarter to hand the Golden Knights a 73-66 defeat on Saturday afternoon at the Highmark Events Center. The loss was the second straight at home for Gannon, something which hasn't happened since the 2018-19 season.
 
Gannon came into the game ranked seventh in the latest D2CSC Top and 11th in the WBCA poll. The Golden Knights are now 20-5 and 12-4 in the PSAC West. IUP improved to 16-4 and 11-4 in conference play.
 
The Golden Knights held a slim 32-30 lead at the half and extended the advantage to 52-44 after three quarters. But they came out cold to start the final period and made just 2-of-10 shots in the quarter.
 
In addition, after committing just four turnovers in the first half Gannon was guilty of seven turnovers in the third quarter and five more in the fourth. That included three steals in the fourth quarter that led to layups.
 
The Crimson Hawks opened the final period on a 13-3 run to pull ahead 57-55. Gannon pulled back ahead with a 3-pointer by Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) with 2:25 remaining, but IUP scored the next nine points to pull away.
 
The loss spoiled strong efforts from Wheatley and Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne). Wheatley finished with 21 points while Maibach, who has battled an injury much of the year, came off the bench to contribute eight points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
 
Gannon will not play at home again until March 1 when Seton Hill visits the Highmark Events Center for the regular season finale. The Golden Knights have three straight games on the road, beginning on Wednesday, February 12 at Slippery Rock.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was a defensive struggle with Gannon taking a 9-8 lead. Neith team was manage much of a lead throughout the opening half. Gannon was able to build a seven point lead was seven points at 15-8 early in the second period while IUP's largest advantage was just three. Gannon built a slight 32-30 lead at the half.
 
The Golden Knights made 7-of-10 shots in the third quarter, at one point building their biggest lead of the game at 50-40. That came with 1:20 remaining on Maddy Wheatley's (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) 3-pointer. It was preceded by a Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) layup and two free throws by Tori Mayes (Lake City, Pa./Cathedral Prep) for a 7-0 run. Gannon led 52-44 after three quarter.
 
The fourth quarter proved the telltale ten minutes. IUP opened with seven consecutive points to pull to within 52-51. Gannon finally got on the scoreboard with 6:42 left as Carissa Dunham (Fairview, Pa./Villa Maria) drained a 3-pointer.
 
The Golden Knights did not score again for two minutes when Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) made a pair of free throws. That evened the score at 57-57. The final five minutes featured five ties.
 
Wheatley's 3-pointer at the 2:25 mark pushed the Golden Knights ahead again at 64-61. But they suffered another dry spell, and this time IUP took advantage. Shamia Strayhorn's three tied the game at 64-64 and following a Gannon turnover she added two free throws at the 1:14 mark to give the Crimson Hawks the lead for good.
 
Another Gannon turnover led to a Nyshae' Weaver layup, and IUP then came up with a steal and Janeira Scott scored as Gannon trailed 70-64, capping a 9-0 run for the Crimson Hawks with just 48 seconds left.
 
Gannon pulled to within four on Wheatley's two free throws but Scott answered with two free throws for a 72-66 lead.     
  
BY THE NUMBERS
Gannon ended the game shooting 46.8 percent from the floor (22-of-47) but for the second straight game an opponent shot 50 percent or better. IUP made 9-of-14 shots in the fourth quarter and ended the game at 51.0 percent (26-of-51). Gannon made 6-of-14 3-pointers while IUP was 3-of-9. Gannon was 16-of-23 from the line and IUP 18-of-24.
 
The Crimson Hawks ended with a 31-25 rebounding advantage. Gannon forced IUP into 17 turnovers but after committing just four turnovers in the first half Gannon ended the game with 16 turnovers.
 
IUP held a 22-17 lead in points off turnovers and the Golden Knights were outscored in the paint 46-30.
 
Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) paced the Golden Knights with 21 points, her second game with 20-or-more points this season. The junior made 6-of-7 shots, including 3-of-4 3-pointers along with going 6-for-6 at the line. She added a team-high five rebounds.
 
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) also reached double digits with 15 points along with three assists.
 
Andrea Maibach (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) has seen limited action since suffering an injury in late November. The redshirt sophomore enjoyed one of her best efforts, making 4-of-5 shots to finish with eight points, adding four rebounds, while playing 11 minutes.
 
NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS
Gannon begins a stretch of three straight road games, playing at Slippery Rock on Wednesday, February 12.  
 
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