MANSFIELD, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team defeated Mansfield University, 70-39, Friday in what was one of The Rock's top defensive performances in program history.
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover win improved The Rock's record to 8-8 on the season overall and 6-4 in league play. Mansfield drops to 1-13 overall and 1-10 in the PSAC with the loss.
 
Slippery Rock's 39 points allowed is tied for the third lowest single-game total against a Division II team in program history. The school record for points allowed in a game against a Division II foe is 30 versus Clarion in 1983-84.
 
Previously, SRU also limited fellow DII counterparts Erskine to 38 points in 2001-02 in addition to allowing just 39 points on three other occasions against Lock Haven (2005-06), Clarion (2005-06) and Salem International (2008-09).
 
The Rock forced Mansfield into 18 turnovers while holding the Mountaineers to shooting percentages of just 27.8 (15-for-54) from the field and 16.7 (3-for-18) from 3-point range. Mansfield was held to just five made field goals in the second half.
 
Conversely, Slippery Rock was an efficient 45.3 percent (24-for-53) from the field overall and 40 percent (8-for-20) from 3-point territory. SRU, which committed just 11 turnovers Friday, also held advantages over Mansfield in rebounding (41-33), steals (9-4), points off turnovers (21-5) and second chance points (11-6).
 
Ciara Patterson paced The Rock's offense with 15 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of steals. Patterson went 5-for-11 from the field overall including three successful 3-point attempts.
 
Madison Johnson came off the bench to give The Rock a season-high 14 points. Johnson, who also pulled in three rebounds, was a near perfect 5-for-6 from the field overall. Morgan Henderson just missed out on a double-double with an 11-point, eight-rebound effort. She also produced three assists and one block in the victory.
 
Daeja Quick did a little bit of everything for Slippery Rock against Mansfield, totaling nine points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and just one turnover. LeeAnn Gibson chipped in seven points, four rebounds and two steals while Brittany Andrews (six points) and Skyla O'Connor (four rebounds) rounded out The Rock's top performers.
 
Mansfield took advantage of a slow Rock start to grab a 10-9 lead through the end of the first quarter before Slippery Rock outscored the Mountaineers 19-12 in the second quarter to take a slim 28-22 lead into the halftime break. SRU proceeded to put the game away with a dominating second-half showing that saw Slippery Rock score 42 of the game's final 59 points en route to the 31-point triumph.
 
After shooting a dismal 15.4 percent (2-for-13) in the first quarter, Slippery Rock finished strong on the offensive end of the court, making 22-of-40 (55 percent) of its field goal attempts over the final three quarters to secure the win.
 
Slippery Rock will look to push its winning streak to three games when it hosts Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday. Tipoff at Morrow Field House is set for 5:30 p.m.
 


 
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