After defeating Edinboro University in a 69-58 win this past Saturday, the Slippery Rock University women’s basketball team took on Gannon University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup on Wednesday.
The Rock, although going on two 8-0 runs in the fourth quarter, ultimately fell to the Golden Knights with a final score of 64-63. Currently sitting in seventh place in the PSAC West standings, Slippery Rock is now 9-11 overall (6-8 in conference play) while Gannon sits one place behind The Rock at 5-15 (5-9).
Trailing 26-18 halfway through the second quarter, The Rock put up 11 unanswered points before the Golden Knights managed to put a stop to the onslaught by scoring five of their own points to take a 31-29 lead into halftime.
Junior Krista Pietropola recorded back-to-back 3-point field goals to give The Rock a 52-51 lead with just under six minutes in regulation. Gannon then took advantage of a technical foul given to Slippery Rock, who called a timeout when they had none to spare, by making both of the foul shots given to them and narrowing The Rock’s lead to 63-62 with just 21 seconds left in the game. Another foul by Slippery Rock set up Gannon’s Maggie Mitchell for two more free throws, which she ultimately made, setting up the Golden Knights for a 64-63 win.
Senior point guard Lexi Carpenter led the way offensively for Slippery Rock, scoring 14 points (going 6 for 12 from the field) and recording five assists while also forcing three turnovers. Carpenter currently leads the PSAC with an average of 20.1 points per game and is tied for first with California’s (Pa.) Miki Glenn for total points with 382 on the season.
Sophomore forward Mallory Heinle registered 11 points, three steals and two assists while Pietropola notched 13 points (5 for 12 from the field) and two assists. Junior forward C.C. Dixon and sophomore forward Morgan combined for 14 points, two assists and four steals.
Slippery Rock will hope to bounce back from their loss this Saturday when they take on Seton Hill University in a PSAC matchup at Morrow Field House in Slippery Rock. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
