COMPLETE GAME NOTES
              
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team will look to stay in the win column when it travels to Lock Haven University 1 p.m. Saturday.
 
After capping off a season-long three-game homestand with their first win of the year, The Rock come in with a 1-6 mark overall, having gone 1-3 within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Bald Eagles continue their best start in over three decades, entering at 9-1 on the year and 4-0 in PSAC play.
 
WATCH LIVE
Fans can watch Saturday's game live and on-demand for free via the links below provided by Lock Haven Athletic Communications.

GAME 8 OF 25
Opponent: Lock Haven
Date: Saturday – 1 p.m.
Location: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Venue: Thomas Fieldhouse
Live Video: PSAC Sports Digital Network
Live Audio: Bear Country Radio, 99.9 WQBR
Live Stats: Lock Haven Athletic Communications
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads, 53-34
Last Played: Jan. 23, 2023 (SRU won, 61-57)

SERIES HISTORY vs. LOCK HAVEN
Saturday will mark the 88th all-time meeting between The Rock and the Bald Eagles, a series that began in 1973. Slippery Rock leads 53-34, winning four of the last five matchups. Prior to that, Lock Haven put together an eight-game winning streak that stretched from 2010-15.
 
Things have been more level when playing in Lock Haven, as SRU has gone 21-19 on the road against the Bald Eagles. Slippery Rock last ventured to LHU in 2017, coming away with an 84-63 win. Despite that, The Rock are 4-6 in their last 10 trips to Thomas Fieldhouse.

LAST MEETING WITH THE BALD EAGLES
Slippery Rock mounted a 61-57 comeback win when it hosted Lock Haven Jan. 23, 2023. Despite trailing by as much as 17-9 in the second quarter, SRU's Deleah Gibson surged to a 25-point performance that included four 3-pointers and a 9-of-10 showing from the foul line.
 
Slippery Rock pulled even with 8:48 to play in the fourth quarter after trailing for much of the game. The Rock eventually outscored Lock Haven 20-13 in the final period to maintain a four-point advantage.
 

WHERE THEY STAND
THE ROCK	STAT	BALD EAGLES
54.6 (16th)	Points per Game	70.1 (7th)
66.6 (13th)	Opp. Points per Game	59.5 (5th)
.354 (16th)	Field Goal Pct.	.430 (5th)
.452 (18th)	Opp. Field Goal Pct.	.387 (9th)
.240 (18th)	3-Point Pct.	.350 (2nd)
.314 (12th)	Opp 3-Point Pct.	.275 (4th)
6.1 (9th)	3-Pointers Made per Game	3.6 (16th)
.663 (14th)	Free Throw Pct.	.679 (3rd)
28.9 (18th)	Rebounds per Game	40.3 (5th)
40.4 (15th)	Opp. Rebounds per Game	33.3 (4th)
-11.5 (18th)	Rebounding Margin	+7.0 (2nd)
11.3 (14th)	Assists	13.3 (9th)
+2.7 (6th)	Turnover Margin	+1.6 (8th)
8.1 (9th)	Steals	8.8 (5th)
1.7 (18th)	Blocks	4.2 (4th)
Per game averages (Rank in PSAC)

 
THE ROCK BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 1-6
PSAC Record: 1-3
PSAC West Standings: 8^th
Home Record: 1-3
Away Record: 0-3
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 1-4
Head Coach: Ryenn Micaletti | First season at SRU (1-6)

LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock most recently split its home set of crossovers, falling 60-58 to Shepherd University and defeating Shippensburg University, 49-32.
 
The Rock fell victim to a Shepherd buzzer-beater in a game that saw three lead changes on Dec. 18. Regan Atkins took full advantage of her shooting opportunities, converting 8-of-12 from the floor en route to an 18-point performance.
 
The Rock won its first game of the season with a controlling victory over Shippensburg just a day later. SRU cruised to its 17-point victory after building up a 27-9 lead at the half. Atkins led The Rock again by scoring 19 points from the floor including 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
 
CONGRATS, COACH!
Slippery Rock's win over Shippensburg marked the first career win as a collegiate head coach for Ryenn Micaletti. The New Castle, Pennsylvania native was named the program's 17th head coach on May 12, 2023.
 
Micaletti accumulated a 230-150 (.605) record as an assistant coach at the NAIA, Division II and Division I levels that included a two-season stint as an assistant at Slippery Rock from 2014-16.
 
LEADING THE CHARGE
Slippery Rock's offense has been led by its contrasting duo of Atkins, a true freshman with 14.7 points per game, and veteran Kristina Donza's 14.1. Their 202 total points have accounted for 52.9 percent of The Rock's cumulative 382 points.
 
Endya Robinson has dominated on the boards with a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game, followed by Kaylin Venick with 4.9.
 
BEST OF THE FRESHMEN
Atkins not only leads Slippery Rock's scoring, but ranks first in the PSAC among all freshmen. The New Castle, Pennsylvania native's 14.7 points per game is also good enough for 13th overall in the conference. SRU's Anye Washington ranks eighth in the same category by adding 7.4 points per game.
 
Points per game among all PSAC freshmen:

1. Regan Atkins, Slippery Rock (14.7)
2. Katie Sheeler, Mansfield University (10.3)
3. Nina Shaw, California (Pa.) (8.6)
4. Kara Wehner, Shepherd (8.4)
5. Autumn Taylor, Clarion (8.1)

 
FORCING THE TURNOVER
Slippery Rock has now forced more turnovers than it has committed in four consecutive games, forcing 44 turnovers in its last two outings.
 
With 21 forced turnovers against Shepherd, The Rock put together their first game of more than 20 forced turnovers since Jan. 28, 2023, when Clarion committed 22 turnovers against Slippery Rock.
 
The Rock's stout defense topped its own record a night later with Shippensburg turning the ball over 23 times.
 
Atkins and Kaylin Venick lead Slippery Rock with nine steals apiece. Robinson follows closely with eight steals while Deryn Moye has seven.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock's +2.71 turnover margin ranks sixth in the PSAC. The Rock are ninth in the conference and sixth in the PSAC West by averaging 8.14 steals per game.
 
SHOOTING LIGHTS OUT
Atkins has shot greater than 50 percent in six of her seven games, currently on a four-game streak. On the season, the freshman has put together a 56.3 field goal percentage, good enough for second in the PSAC and 25th in Division II.
 
Atkins also leads the Green and White in 3-point accuracy, cashing in 11-of-27 (.407) from beyond the 3-point line.
 
DONZA FROM DOWNTOWN
Donza has made at least one 3-pointer in each of the seven games this season, ranking sixth in the PSAC with 2.3 3-pointers per game.
 
The redshirt junior has shot 16-of-52 (.308) from deep on the season, having taken the most 3-point attempts on the team.
 
LEADING AT INTERMISSION
Slippery Rock held its first halftime lead of the season against Shippensburg with a 27-9 advantage en route to its 49-32 win. The Rock also created their largest lead of the season at 23 points, extending the margin to 43-20 in the third quarter.
 
THE ROCK ROTATION
• Atkins crossed 100 career points last week, getting to 103 after 37 points in the last two games. If her season average of 14.7 points per game continues throughout the remainder of the season, Atkins would finish the year with 367 points and rank third within the program for most points in a freshman season
 
• Donza made three 3-pointers in a game for the third time this season by going 3-of-6 against Shepherd. Her three assists against Shippensburg was a career-best for the Jackson, New Jersey native.
 
• Gabby Jackson shot a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range against Shippensburg after coming into the game with just two career 3-pointers. She tied her personal-best three rebounds in the same game.
 
• Kelley McKnight scored a season-high four points in SRU's win versus Shippensburg in her third consecutive start.
 
• In the first trip to the foul line in her career, Moye made her first free throw against Shepherd.
 
THE ROCK HEADS EAST
Slippery Rock has historically fared well when playing in PSAC crossover matches, going 26-21 (.553) since the 2014-15 season.
 
The Rock have gone 1-3 against PSAC East opponents this season, falling in both road games against No. 13 West Chester University and Millersville University.
 
A year ago, SRU posted a 4-2 mark against PSAC East teams despite both losses coming on the road.
 
THE BALD EAGLES BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 9-1
PSAC Record: 4-0
PSAC East Standings: 1^st
Home Record: 4-0
Away Record: 4-0
Neutral Record: 1-1
Streak: W9
Last Five Games: 5-0
Head Coach: Jennifer Smith | 16^th season at Lock Haven (152-257, .372)
 
LOCK HAVEN SCOUTING REPORT
After losing their first game of the season to Fairmont State University, the Bald Eagles are riding a nine-game winning streak and remain as the last PSAC East team with a 4-0 record in conference play.
 
Off to its best start in over 30 years, Lock Haven claimed its most convincing win of the season most recently with a 69-58 victory over No. 13 California (Pa.) on the road. The Bald Eagles have also beaten Pitt-Johnstown, Indiana University (Pa.) and Seton Hill University in PSAC competition.
 
Sophomore Jenadia Jordan leads the squad with 15.7 points per game, ranked seventh in the PSAC. Shooting 46.2 percent on the season and 44.4 percent from the 3-point arc, Jordan also averages 5.2 rebounds per game.
 
Fellow sophomore Alana Robinson has scored 14 points per game this season, making 54.3 percent of her shots from the floor. Robinson also leads the PSAC with two blocks per game.
 
Despite its success, Lock Haven ranks just seventh in the PSAC in scoring offense, averaging 70.1 points per game. Allowing 59.5 points from the opposition, LHU ranks fifth defensively in the conference.
 
The Bald Eagles do not often shoot 3-pointers, but have found success when doing so. Making 3.6 3-pointers per game, third fewest in the PSAC, LHU is second in the conference with a .350 3-point percentage.

LOOKING AHEAD
Slippery Rock will play its final PSAC East opponent of the year when it returns home to host Kutztown University 3 p.m. Jan. 3 at Morrow Field House. Slippery Rock last played the Golden Bears in 2021, falling 62-47 at home.




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