SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.- The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team overcame 15 first-half turnovers and outscored Clarion University 22-8 in the fourth quarter to earn a 71-54 win in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
With the win, Slippery Rock improves to 12-14 overall and 8-12 in the PSAC West. Clarion drops to 8-19 overall and 8-13 in conference competition with the loss. Slippery Rock's win, combined with Seton Hill University's loss at Mercyhurst, keeps The Rock's postseason hopes alive. SRU's 12 wins are also the most in a single season for the program since 2005-2006.
 
Lexi Carpenter led all scorers with 22 points, while she also dishing out a team-high four assists and grabbing eight rebounds for The Rock. Erica Aiello added 13 points, while Mallory Heinle and Ciara Patterson had 12 and 11 points apiece. Morgan Henderson just missed out on a double-double with eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds in addition to making a career-best three steals and two blocks.
 
Slippery Rock held a 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Clarion scored four points on back-to-back SRU turnovers at the start of the second quarter to take the lead. The Golden Eagles went on a seven-point run three minutes into the quarter to lead by as much as six, 24-18, with 6:28 to play. The Rock closed the quarter with a seven-point run of its own to take back the lead, 31-28, at halftime.
 
For the first time in 2015-16, Slippery Rock truly dominated the glass, outrebounding Clarion 48-23. The +25 margin was the largest for SRU all season. Helping Henderson and Carpenter on the glass with six rebounds each was Patterson and Aiello. Heinle also pulled in five rebounds.
 
SRU led by as many as seven in the third frame, but the Golden Eagles connected on a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the period to cut SRU's lead to 49-46 after three quarters. However, The Rock dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Clarion 22-8, to pull away and cruise to the 17-point victory.
 
For the game, SRU shot 40.4 percent (23-for-57) from the field overall and 83.3 percent (20-for-24) from the foul line. Clarion made 34.6 percent (18-for-52) of its field goals and 26.3 percent (5-for-19) of its 3-pointers, while hitting 72.2 percent (13-for-18) of its foul shots. Slippery Rock committed 23 turnovers, while Clarion had 17.
 
Slippery Rock also held advantages over Clarion in points in the paint (28-16), second chance points (25-9) and bench scoring (14-3).
 
Tania Holmes paced Clarion with 16 points. Tyra Polite and Amesha Harden-Pulliam added 12 and 10 points, respectfully.
 
Slippery Rock continues its PSAC West schedule Saturday at 5 p.m. when it hosts Gannon in the final home game of the season.