CLARION, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team overcame a sluggish start to force overtime and eventually successfully finish off its comeback attempt with a 77-71 road victory at Clarion University Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play.
The win, Slippery Rock's fourth in its last six games, improves The Rock's record to 11-14 overall and 7-14 in league play. The 11 wins tie this year's team with the 2008-09 squad for the most wins by the program in the last nine seasons. More importantly, the victory moves Slippery Rock into a tie with Pitt-Johnstown for sixth place and the final spot in the upcoming PSAC Tournament.
The Rock's postseason fate will be decided Wednesday when UPJ travels to Edinboro and SRU hosts California. A Rock victory assures Slippery Rock of a spot in the PSAC Tournament regardless of what Pitt-Johnstown does. Slippery Rock also qualifies for the PSAC Tournament for the first time since the 2005-06 season as long as it finishes with the same record as Pitt-Johsntown. The only way Slippery Rock can be eliminated from postseason play is if UPJ defeats Edinboro and The Rock loses to California.
Slippery Rock found itself trailing Clarion 43-34 at halftime, but wasted little time getting itself back into the game with a 20-7 run over the first nine minutes of the second half to establish a 54-50 lead. Clarion responded with a quick 4-0 run of its own to the tie the contest and from there the game became a back-and-forth affair for the remaining eight minutes of the period.
SRU seemed poised to complete its comeback in regulation when senior forward
D'Asia Chambers bullied her way inside to convert a layup and give The Rock a one-point lead followed three possessions later by a pair of successful free throws from junior forward
Megan Hardiman that put Slippery Rock ahead 66-63 with 44 seconds to play.
A Clarion turnover then forced the Golden Eagles to foul, but Slippery Rock could not connect on either of the ensuing free throws, giving Clarion one more chance with 24 seconds showing on the clock. Coming out of a timeout, Clarion's Cara Cook hit a game-tying three-pointer with 10.2 seconds left to force overtime.
Despite the late rally, Clarion could not carry its momentum into overtime as Slippery Rock quickly established dominance thanks to six points by Chambers and a basket by junior guard
Taylor Siggers that pushed SRU's lead to 73-69 with one minute to go in the extra period. Slippery Rock closed the game out down the stretch by not allowing Clarion to score again until there was just five seconds to play en route to the 77-71 win.
Chambers and Hardiman both tallied double-doubles to lead The Rock. Chambers went for 27 points and 11 rebounds to go with two blocks, two steals and two assists while Hardiman added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Hardiman went 9-for-10 from the foul line overall and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final three minutes of the second half and overtime.
Siggers was The Rock's third player in double figures with 10 points while junior forward
Sorriyah Ranger came off the bench for one of her top games this season. Ranger was a presence inside, chipping in seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals in 23 minutes.
A major factor in The Rock's comeback victory was a defensive effort that held Clarion to a 16.7 percent (5-for-30) shooting effort from the floor that was accompanied by 12 turnovers in the final 25 minutes of competition.
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 41.3 percent (26-for-43) from the field and held a 42-38 edge in rebounds over the Golden Eagles. Ranger, Chambers and senior forward
Danielle Garroutte combined to compile a team season-high eight blocks for Slippery Rock.
Slippery Rock also held advantages in bench scoring (16-9) and second chance points (16-7).
Delrika Jones-Carrey had 22 points and eight rebounds for Clarion in the losing effort.
Slippery Rock will tipoff its regular season finale against California at Morrow Field House on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
