Boxscore
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Visiting Gannon University rode a 27-6 scoring advantage in the first 10 minutes of the second half to an 83-63 win over Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division action in Morrow Field House.
The decisive run folllowed an opening half of action that included five lead changes and four ties and culminated in a 33-33 stalemate at the intermission.
With the win, Gannon improved its overall record to 14-3 and its PSAC-West mark to 7-2.
The loss dropped The Rock's records to 8-14, 3-6.
Kim Vargas led the winners with 21 points and eight rebounds. She was one of five Golden Knights who finished with a double-digit scoring total. Carrie Nolan added 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Kristina Freeman chipped in 13 points, Abby Bunstine 11 points and Brittany Tabron 10 points and six rebounds.
Junior post player
Jess Schake led The Rock attack with 15 points, while junior wing player
Julie Molloy finished with 13 points and senior post player
Sasha Sales grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Gannon finished the game with a 54.7% (29 of 53) efficiency from the field, keyed by a 18 of 30 (60%) effort in the second half. The Golden Knights hit 10 of 21 (47.6%) of their 3-point shots and canned 15 of 17 (88.2%) of their free throws.
The Rock shot 43.9% (25 of 57) from the field, hit six of 18 shots from beyond the arc and had an icy 41.2% (7 of 17) effort from the foul line.
The guests held a 36-26 rebounding advantage but committed more turnovers, 19-18.
Gannon scored the first six points of the game and held two seven-point leads, the second of which was a 16-9 advantage with 12:45 left in the first half.
SRU roared back from that deficit with an 11-4 run in the next five minutes to knot the score at 20-20 with 7:15 left before intermission.
The Rock took its first lead, 23-20, on a three-point shot by senior wing player Chere' Marshall with 6:45 left.
Three ties and four lead changes latger, the teams retired to the locker room for the intermission with the score deadlocked at 33-33.
A pair of Sales free throws accounted for the first points of the second half and, ultimately, the final Rock lead (35-33).
Gannon scored the next four points to start an 18-4 run that gave the Golden Knights a double-digit lead they would not relinquish. The largest lead of the game was a 23-point, 62-39, Gannon advantage with 10 minutes left in the game.
The Rock was held scoreless for over five minutes during its scoring drought.
SRU hits the road for its next game as they visit Edinboro for a 1 p.m. division game Saturday.
The Green and White host Lock Haven in a division game next Wednesday (6 p.m.) in Morrow Field House.
