The Rock lost their second game in row during the most critical stretch of the season to Edinboro on Wednesday. The Rock sits at 6-15 in conference play, but the games that went simultaneously at Pitt-Johnstown and Mercyhurst went in The Rock’s favor, as both Seton Hill and Mercyhurst lost.
In the game, The Rock never held a lead in the game and only scored more points than the Fighting Scots in the second quarter as they outscored them 20-19. At the half, The Rock was down 41-30 and the last three points of the half for The Rock came when Brooke Hinderliter got fouled on a three point shot.
Hinderliter, who entered the game only 59 points away from the scoring record, only scored eight points in the first half. She went two for seven from the field in the first half, but, in the second half, she went 7 of 15 and scored nine points in the last three minutes of the game. She now needs 34 points to break the record, which would be a new career high.
The Rock was missing three players due to illness including starter LeeAnn Gibson, and in her absence junior Brittany Andrews got the start and put up 13 points and seven rebounds. Madison Johnson also scored 17 points as she shot 7 for 16.
Only nine players saw minutes for The Rock, including freshman Caroline Gibson and Chelsea DeSalve. For the most part though, the starters were in for the majority of the game as The Rock was also missing Anyah Curd and Carol Weber.
Saturday will answer every question for The Rock, who, just two weeks ago, saw the postseason as out of reach. Now, with a win over the Lakers and a Griffins loss The Rock can return to the postseason. Realistically, The Rock can sneak in with the losing streaks by Mercyhurst and Seton Hill.
The Rock would only shot 39% from the field and didn’t get to the line at all in the first or fourth quarter. The Rock also only got there once in the second, and Edinboro got to the line at least twice per quarter. Slippery Rock shot six for seven from the free throw line and the Fighting Scots shot 20 for 25.
Saturday will also be senior day for The Rock, paying tribute to seniors including Hinderliter, Gibson, Johnson, Karrington and Ketterer. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. and at the same time, Edinboro will fave Seton Hill, so the game in Morrow Field House may very well serve as a playoff game in its own right.
