Box Score
INDIANA, PA – Despite a career-high 22 points from
Ashley Stoner (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) and 20 forced turnovers, the Crimson Hawks bid for an upset fell short as the IUP women's basketball team lost to sixth-ranked Gannon 60-52 on Wednesday night at the KCAC.
The loss drops the Crimson Hawks to 16-6 overall and 11-5 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), still good for third in the Western Division. The Golden Knights improve to 21-2 overall and lead the division with a 15-1 conference record.
Stoner finished 8-of-12 from the field and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line, all in a career-high 34 minutes.
She did most of her damage in the first half with 18 points as the Crimson Hawks jumped out to a 29-24 halftime lead even while playing without starters
Sarah Pastorek (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) and
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center). Down 22-16 with 5:47 remaining, IUP kept the Golden Knights off the board for over five minutes, ending the half on a 13-2 run.
Gannon took an early second half lead by scoring the first seven points but a 7-0 run by the Crimson Hawks, including a three-pointer by
Marina Wareham (New Wilmington, Pa. /Kennedy Catholic), put IUP back in the lead at 36-31 with 12:38 left on the clock.
The Golden Knights rallied to take a two-point lead before both teams went back-and-forth until Gannon jumped on top by six at 49-43 with 3:52 remaining. A forced turnover followed by a jumper by Stoner on the other end cut IUP's deficit to four and gave the Crimson Hawks momentum, but a layup at the other end by Jennifer Papich kept them at arm's length.
Free throws down the stretch would doom IUP as Gannon went 6-for-7 in the last 49 seconds to seal the win.
The Crimson Hawks held Gannon leading scorers Brittany Batts, Papich and Nettie Blake all below their season scoring averages as the Golden Knights went just 2-of-13 from three-point range.
Marita Mathe (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) also scored in double-figures with 16 points, knocking down four three-pointers.
The Crimson Hawks will look to rebound on Saturday night when they travel to Clarion to face the Golden Eagles. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
