SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team played one of its most complete games of the season and earned a crucial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory against Seton Hill University, 87-82, Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock vaulted out to a 15-point first half lead and withstood the Griffins' comeback bid in the second period to register its 10^th victory of the season. The 10 wins are the most for program since SRU won 11 games in 2008-09.
 
More importantly, the victory improved SRU's record to 6-13 in PSAC-West play. The win, combined with a Pitt-Johnstown's loss at Gannon, moves The Rock into a tie for sixth place in the league standings. If the season ended today, Slippery Rock would earn a berth into the PSAC Tournament over Pitt-Johnstown due to owning the tiebreaker over the Mountain Cats.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock matched its season-high in field goal effectiveness at 49.1 percent (28-for-57). SRU also recorded a team season-high of 18 assists.  
 
Slippery Rock, which entered the game as one of the top free throw shooting teams in the PSAC, continued to come through at the line by converting 25-of-32 attempts. SRU was 8-for-10 from the foul line in the final three minutes of Saturday's game.
 
Junior forward Megan Hardiman made two free throws with 18 seconds left to put The Rock up three points then freshman forward Mallory Heinle connected on two clutch foul shots with seven seconds remaining that made it a two-possession contest and sealed the game.
 
Slippery Rock placed five players in double figures for the first time since the 2012 season with senior forward D'Asia Chambers leading the way at 20 points. Sophomore guard Audrey Stapleton produced a career-high 18 points followed by junior guards Erica Aiello (13), Taylor Siggers (12) and Hardiman (10).
 
Chambers grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, coming just short of a double-double, in addition to making four steals.
 
Seton Hill jumped out to a seven-point lead four minutes into the game before Slippery Rock stormed back with a decisive 26-4 run over the following 8:17 to move ahead 28-13. The run featured a balanced scoring attack that included six points by Aiello and Chambers. SRU went 10-for-21 from the field over the run.
 
Slippery Rock maintained its 15-point lead going into the half and kept a double-digit lead for most of the second period until a 9-0 Seton Hill run midway through the half reduced The Rock's lead to 65-60 with eight minutes to play.
 
The Griffins continued their spurt and managed to tie the game twice inside the final three minutes, but could never take the lead as Slippery Rock's free throw shooting down stretch combined with a defensive performance that held SHU without a made field goal for the final 2:53 clinched a the near must-win contest, 87-82.,
 
The Rock dominated the battle of the boards, finishing with a plus-10 rebounding margin (37-27). SRU also held advantages in points in the paint (36-24), second chance points (16-9) and bench scoring (36-10).
 
Prior to the game, Slippery Rock honored its 2014-15 senior class of Chambers, Danielle Garroutte and guard Bridget McClure for their contributions to the program.
 
Kelly Brennan spearheaded the Seton Hill offensive attack and nearly willed the Griffins to the win with a career-high 39 points.
 
Winners of three out its last four games, Slippery Rock will look to continue its late-season surge with a road upset of No. 13 Indiana on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.