ERIE, Pa. -- Battling back in a big way over the final quarter, IUP women's basketball could not overcome a slow start in a 94-88 loss to Gannon on Wednesday night in Erie.
IUP (11-2, 6-2) received a team-high 22 points from
Gina Adams, who chipped in three assists and three steals. Adams was one of four Hawks in double figures on the night as
Maria Cerro added 18 points. The guard duo of
Kiera Baughman and
Janeira Scott posted 17 points each, with Baughman scoring all of her points in the final half.
Gannon (14-2, 6-2) rose to first place in the PSAC West behind its eighth consecutive win. Bri Claxon dropped in 30 points (11-13 FG) off the bench, while Emma Wright added 28 for the hot-shooting Knights. Gannon shot 62.7% from the floor for the game, opening up a 25-12 lead following the first.
IUP countered back on multiple occasions in the fourth, trimming what was a 21-point first half Gannon lead down to as little as three (86-83). Scott was particularly impactful for IUP off the bench with three steals and some timely baskets.
Gannon began the game with a 13-2 surge to open the game, playing strong on defense while reeling off an 8-0 spurt over 2:56. The Knights continued to outpace the Hawks with the quarter expiring. The visitors used a quick five-point swing with a three from Adams and steal and score for Cerro, trimming the IUP deficit to 25-12.
The Hawks slowly chipped away in the second quarter, getting the score to within nine points at 31-22 following a Cerro triple at the 5:36 mark. Gannon eventually stretched its lead to 12 at the second quarter media timeout. Part of expanding that lead was an 11-2 run, capped by a triple from the left wing by Claxon for a 44-26 Gannon advantage in the second quarter.
Gannon led 46-29 at the break following a turnover-plagued few minutes for both sides. The Knights shot 65.4% in the opening half and were led by a game-high 18 points from Emma Wright. Bri Claxon added 13 points for the Knights over the initial 20 minutes, while
Maria Cerro logged nine first-half points for IUP.
The second half started with some up and down offensive action as Kiera Baughman found the hoop for the first time with the opening bucket of the second half. The Knights continued to shot at an impressive clip, maintaining their advantage through the third period. Scott was strong on both sides of the floor for the Hawks in the third as Gannon led 71-53 through three periods.
Adams converted a three following a steal, slicing the Gannon lead to 10 points at 71-61 in the fourth quarter, prompting a timeout at 8:23. IUP slowed the pace and continued to slowly chip away with an increased effort on the offensive glass.
IUP refocused on defense, methodically chipping away as the fourth quarter progressed. Baughman drilled a triple to make it 86-83 before the Knights eventually closed the game out at the foul line. The Knights finished 22-for-25 from the foul line in their return to the Highmark Events Center.
Up Next
IUP is back on the road, visiting Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, January 14 at 1:00 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
