SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Behind a smothering defensive effort, the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team cruised to a 74-43 victory over Millersville University Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition at Morrow Field House.
The win was Slippery Rock's second consecutive victory, improving its record to 5-5 on the year overall and 3-2 in the PSAC. Millersville dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the PSAC with the loss.
Slippery Rock held Millersville to a 24.5 field goal percentage (13-of-53) and forced the Marauders into 21 turnovers. The turning point of the game came late in the second quarter. Already leading 29-25 with 2:51 left to play in the first half, Slippery Rock proceeded to outscore Millersville 16-2 over the following 10:46 to push its advantage out to 45-27 with 2:05 to play in the third quarter.
The Rock forced six turnovers and held Millersville to a 1-for-17 shooting performance from the field over the decisive run. SRU built its lead out to as many as 38 points late in the fourth quarter en route to its 31-point victory. Saturday marked The Rock's largest win since defeating Penn State Allegheny 65-24 on Nov. 24, 2014.
Saturday's game was the second dominating defensive performance in as many games for The Rock, SRU also held Cheyney to 45 points in a Rock win on Dec. 3. Over the last two games, opponents are shooting just 25.6 percent (30-of-117) and averaging 22 turnovers against Slippery Rock.
Krista Pietropola led the way for Slippery Rock against Millersville with one of the best games of her collegiate career. She scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field overall, including a 4-of-8 effort from 3-point range while also grabbing six rebounds and making three steals.
Lexi Carpenter scored 16 points on an efficient 5-for-8 mark from the field and a 5-of-6 showing at the free throw line to go with three steals and two assists in just 20 minutes.
C.C. Dixon was The Rock's third player to score in double figures with 13 points. Dixon also contributed six points and three assists.
Brooke Hinderliter and
Cassidy Wright rounded out The Rock's top scorers with seven points apiece.
Mallory Heinle and
Morgan Henderson paced SRU's rebounding efforts with nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
Sierra Fordham came off the bench to pass out a team-best four assists.
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 43.9 percent from the field (25-of-57), 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from 3-point range and 69.6 percent (18-of-26) at the free throw line. Slippery Rock held advantages over Millersville in rebounds (42-37), points off turnovers (24-8), points in the paint (34-6), second chance points (20-14) and bench scoring (31-19).
Slippery Rock will look to extend its winning streak to a season-long three games with a win Dec. 16 at West Liberty University. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
