SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Nicole LaCava converted a pair of free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation to give Gannon University a 70-68 victory over the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock's record drops to 10-9 on the season overall and 8-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. Gannon improves to 11-8 overall in 2017-18 and 8-5 in league games.
 
Gannon led Slippery Rock by 12 points, 66-54, with 4:18 to play in the fourth quarter, but Slippery Rock persevered and methodically cut into the Lady Knights' lead with an 11-3 run over the following 3:53 to make it a 68-65 game with just 35 seconds to play.
 
Morgan Henderson blocked a layup attempt by Maggie Mitchell on the ensuing possession to give Slippery Rock the ball with 34 seconds to play before coming down the court and smoothly making a 3-pointer off of a Brooke Hinderliter pass to tie the contest at 68-68 with 24 seconds remaining.
 
Following a timeout, Sydney Mitchell missed a would-be game-winning 3-pointer for Gannon with five seconds left and the game appeared to headed to overtime. However, LaCava rebounded Mitchell's shot and missed a put-back attempt, but drew a foul against Henderson, despite Henderson making little to no contact with LaCava and appearing to be in perfect defensive position. LaCava went on to make both free throw attempts and a desperation shot by Hinderliter was off the mark as Gannon escaped with the two-point victory.
 
Free throws played a huge part in Wednesday's game. Gannon converted 21-of-25 foul shots while Slippery Rock was limited to just 10 free throws, eight of which were successful.
 
Sierra Fordham led four Rock players in double figures with a career-high 20 points. Fordham, who went 9-for-14 from the field overall and 2-for-4 from 3-point territory, also passed out six assists while committing just two turnovers. Fordham is averaging 13.3 points per game over The Rock's last four contests.  
 
LeeAnn Gibson battled a tall Gannon front line to finish with a career-best 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and a 1-for-2 mark at the foul line to go with seven rebounds and one steal.
 
Henderson added 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks. Hinderliter matched Henderson with 11 points of her own in addition to four assists, two rebounds and one steal.
 
Madison Johnson chipped in nine points, Krista Pietropola grabbed four rebounds, Mallory Heinle blocked one shot and Skyla O'Connor scored four points to round out The Rock's top performers.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock shot an efficient 45.9 percent (28-for-61) from the floor. SRU committed a near season-low 10 turnovers while forcing Gannon into 15 miscues. The Rock also held advantages over Gannon in points off turnovers (14-9), points in the paint (36-20) and fast break points (8-0).
 
LaCava scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Gannon. The Lady Knights shot 46.5 percent (20-for-43) from the field overall, 50 percent (9-for-18) from deep and 84 percent (21-for-25) at the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock will look to snap its two-game losing streak with a win 1 p.m. Saturday at No. 14 California (Pa.).
 

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