Box Score
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team dropped a 59-46 decision to Lock Haven Wednesday night at Morrow Field House in the opening game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division schedule.
With the loss, Slippery Rock drops to 4-9 overall and 1-8 in PSAC play. Lock Haven evens out at 6-6 overall and improves to 5-4 in league action.
Lock Haven took the lead for good with 8:06 to play in the first half and never trailed the rest of the way. The Rock cut a nine-point deficit to one point early in the second half before the Lady Eagles used a 6-0 run to open the game up and pushed the lead out to as much as 11 points on five separate occasions throughout the second half before knocking down free throws for the final 13 point margin.
Erinne Cunningham led Slippery Rock with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
Jasmine Cooper chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds, while
Danielle Smith added eight points and
Paris Thomas handed out a career-high 11 assists.
The Rock finished the game shooting 32.7 percent from the field, connecting on 18-of-55 attempts, including 6-of-21 from behind the 3-point arc for a 28.6 percent efficiency. The hosts were 50 percent at the free throw line, hitting 4-of-8 and were outrebounded by a 50-31 margin.
Lock Haven was led by a game-high 15 points from Mahogany Spence, while Kacie Hershey added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and Peaches Nesmith chipped in 13 points.
The Lady Eagles connected on 20-of-59 shots from the field for a 33.9 percent efficiency, but were just 2-of-10 for a 20 percent effort from the 3-point arc. LHU made 17-of-25 free throws for a 68 percent efficiency.
The two teams traded baskets out of the gate and were tied at 5-5 before Lock Haven opened up a six point edge, 13-7, with 13:25 to play in the first half.
Slippery Rock answered with a 7-0 run to take a 14-13 lead with 11:05 to play before the break before the teams traded baskets again, this time with Lock Haven emerging with a 19-18 lead with 3:22 to play.
The Lady Eagles closed the half on an 8-2 run to take a 27-20 lead into the intermission.
Lock Haven pushed the lead out to nine points at 34-25 with 17:34 to play before The Rock mounted a 9-0 rally to pull within one at 34-33 with 15:10 to play.
From there, the Lady Eagles responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead to seven points and capped a 12-2 run with a jumper from Kelsey Ryan to make it 46-35 with 9:21 to play. Slippery Rock cut the deficit to seven points on one occasion, but would get no closer down the stretch.
Wednesday's game marked the end of a three game homestand for Slippery Rock, which will not return to Morrow Field House until Jan. 21. The Rock will travel to Mercyhurst Jan. 14 for a 1 p.m. game and will travel to California (Pa.) Jan. 18 for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
