SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 79-68 non-conference loss to Walsh University Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.
 
The loss drops Slippery Rock's record to 3-3 on the season overall while Walsh improves to 2-3 in 2017-18 with the win.
 
Walsh led by at least 10 points on two separate occasions throughout the first three quarters, but Slippery Rock was able to battle back and erase both deficits and ultimately found itself down just two points at 57-55 with 7:36 remaining in regulation.
 
However, Slippery Rock was unable to complete its comeback bid as Walsh proceeded to go on a decisive 9-0 run and open up a 66-55 lead with 3:59 to play that SRU was unable to recover from in an eventual 11-point defeat.
 
Ciara Patterson hit the 20-point plateau for a second consecutive game as she finished with a team-best 21 points to go with five rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Patterson went 8-for-17 from the field over the final three quarters.
 
Brooke Hinderliter and Madison Johnson supplemented Patterson's big day with 13 points apiece. Hinderliter also grabbed five rebounds, passed out three assists and made three steals. Johnson, who went 11-for-12 from the free throw line, added six rebounds and two assists as well.
 
LeeAnn Gibson came off the bench to pull in a team-high seven rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass, in addition to scoring six points and passing out three assists. Morgan Henderson and Krista Pietropola both corralled six rebounds and Mallory Heinle scored five points to round out The Rock's top performers.
 
Slippery Rock fought through its second worst shooting performance of the season Saturday, finishing the contest at just 31.9 percent (22-for-69) from the field and 35.3 percent (6-for-17) from 3-point territory. SRU was stellar at the line, going 18-for-22 (81.8 percent).
 
The Rock concluded the game with advantages over Walsh in total rebounds (45-43), offensive rebounds (18-12), second chance points (17-11) and bench scoring (12-10). Slippery Rock has out-rebounded its opponents in four of six games this season.
 
Alex Hochstedler scored a game-high 32 points to lead Walsh. Mayci Sales added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, Walsh shot 41.9 percent (26-for-62) from the field overall, 26.9 percent (7-for-26) from 3-point range and 80 percent (20-for-25) from the free throw line.
 
Both teams committed 16 turnovers, but the Cavaliers scored 23 points off of The Rock's miscues while SRU was only able to turn Walsh's turnovers into 14 points. Walsh also held a 36-26 edge over Slippery Rock in points in the paint.
 
Slippery Rock begins a three-game road trip Dec. 2 at Lock Haven University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover contest.
 

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