CLARION, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team lost on the road at Clarion University, 92-78, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game Saturday at the Clarion Recreation Center.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 10-14 on the season overall and 8-10 in the PSAC West. Clarion picked up its second win in the last three games to improve to 9-15 overall and 3-14 in league competition.
 
While Saturday's loss was not an idea result, Slippery Rock still remains firmly in the PSAC Tournament picture with three league games remaining in the regular season. The Rock exits the weekend tied for fifth in the PSAC West standings with Pitt-Johnstown and a full game ahead of Gannon (7-11). The top six teams in the PSAC West at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
Madison Johnson made her first start since Nov. 25 and responded with a terrific performance of 25 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. Johnson pulled in seven offensive rebounds and finished the game shooting 10-for-16 from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 outing from deep, as well as going 3-for-3 at foul line.
 
Ciara Patterson went 4-for-8 from 3-point range on the way to a 17-point, four-rebound, one-block game. Patterson has now made 59 3-pointers this season, the sixth most in a year in program history. She is also up to 160 3-pointers made in her career, which is tied with Julie Molloy (2007-10) for the sixth most in at The Rock.
 
Karington Ketterer came off the bench to tally nine points, five of which came from the foul line. Brooke Hinderliter added seven points while the trio of Daeja Quick, Morgan Henderson and Kasch Harris chipped in five points apiece with Quick dishing out five assists and Henderson corralling five rebounds.
 
The opening two quarters of Saturday's game were extremely sloppy for Slippery Rock. SRU committed 10 turnovers and allowed Clarion to grab 13 offensive rebounds that resulted in 18 second chance points as the Golden Eagles took a 43-36 lead into the halftime break.
 
The duo of Johnson and Patterson kept The Rock in the game through the first 20 minutes. Johnson scored 12 points and grabbed four offensive rebounds while Patterson connected on three 3-pointers on the way to an 11-point half.  
 
The Rock and Golden Eagles traded possessions for the majority of the third quarter before Harris connected on a 3-pointer with just seconds left in the period to cut SRU's deficit to four points at 60-56 heading into the final quarter of play. Henderson converted a layup on The Rock's first possession of the fourth quarter to further trim CU's advantage down to only two points, but the one-basket margin would be as close as Slippery Rock coul get.
 
Following Henderson's layup, the Golden Eagles rattled off eight straight points to push its lead out to 68-58 with 7:13 remaining in regulation. Slippery Rock was able to get within single digits of Clarion at several points over the remainder of the game, but ultimately any hopes of road comeback were dashed as the Golden Eagles went 16-for-20 at the free throw line and 7-for-11 from the field in the final quarter to finish off the upset victory.
 
Clarion shot 45.2 percent from the field (28-for-62), made four 3-pointers and converted 32-of-40 free throw attempts while committing just 10 turnovers and forcing 18 Rock miscues. The 40 foul shots were most by a Rock opponent this season. The Golden Eagles also held advantages over SRU in rebounds (42-38) and points off turnovers (18-6).
 
Five Clarion players finished in double figures Saturday including Yndiah Bobo, who went for 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
Once Slippery Rock cut down on its turnovers The Rock played fine offensively, finishing the game shooting 42.4 percent (25-for-59) from the field overall and 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from deep, but just 63.6 percent (21-for-33) at the free throw line.
 
Slippery Rock returns home to host Edinboro University 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20. SRU will look to avenge an 85-64 loss at Edinboro earlier in the season.
 




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