In the wake of 38 point losses, finding the bright side can border on impossible.
In the case of the Slippery Rock women’s basketball team’s 87-50 loss to Gannon, there’s actually a couple of bright sides.
Senior Brooke Hinderliter moved into second on the all-time scoring list, and Slippery Rock’s playoff chances are still intact… if only hanging by a thread.
Regardless, Saturday night is one that Slippery Rock head coach and his squad would rather forget.
Gannon turned an early 8-5 deficit into a 42-23 halftime on the back of a 38-15 run to close out the half, spurred by an all-around dominant effort from the field, beyond the arc and from the line in the first half.
Shooting 52% from the field, 42.9% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line, nearly totaling Slippery Rock’s first-half scoring total by going 14-of-16 from the line, Gannon boasted a pair of double-digit scorers by the halftime buzzer.
Slippery Rock was able to improve upon its first-half shooting, if only barely, jumping from 29.2% from the field and 20% from 3-point range to 30.8% and 25%, respectively, but Gannon continued its scorching night from the field.
Senior Brooke Hinderliter scored a layup to open the second half and followed with a pair of free throws, cutting Gannon’s lead to just 16 points. However, the Knights quickly doubled the lead from a barrage of 3-pointers, and by the end of the third quarter, had built a 31 point lead.
Gannon coasted through the fourth quarter, stretching the lead as high as 40 points at times and picked up another Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory.
Leaders
SRU: Hinderliter was the only double-digit scorer for Slippery Rock, notching her 10th 20-point effort of the season, with 21 points and seven rebounds.
Senior Madison Johnson chipped in eight points, and juniors Daeja Quick and Brittany Andrews added five points each.
GU: Tori Obenrader led a trio of double-digit scorers for Gannon, posting a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Chelsea Rourke and Sydney Mitchell each scored 16 points while Rourke added four blocks and two steals and Mitchell added five assists and four rebounds.
Big Picture
SRU: Falling to 8-18 on the season and 6-14 in the conference with the loss, Slippery Rock still clings to hope for a playoff spot.
Trailing Seton Hill and Mercyhurst, both of which riding three game losing streaks, by a game, Slippery Rock would need both to continue losing for a chance to sneak into the playoff picture.
With her 21 points, Hinderliter moved into second place on the all-time scoring list in Slippery Rock women’s basketball history.
With 1,702 points, Hinderliter would need 58 points over the last two games to tie Heather Kearney’s all-time record of 1,760 points.
GU: Gannon remains second in the PSAC-West at 21-6 on the season and 17-4 in the conference with the win.
Having clinched the second seed in the West, Gannon has already locked up a first round bye in the PSAC Tournament.
Up Next
Slippery Rock remains on the road for a must-win game Wednesday evening against Edinboro. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
