COMPLETE GAME NOTES | TICKETS
GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2023-24. This page will serve as the "Digital Game Program" for this week's game. To navigate to all gameday info for any SRU home events this year, simply visit rockathletics.com/gameday or scan the QR code on the "Gameday Info" posters hanging in each facility.
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team will take on its second nationally ranked opponent of the season when it hosts No. 3 Gannon University 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
The Rock comes in with a 1-10 record on the season after beginning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition with a 1-7 mark. The Golden Knights will be seeking their 15
th straight win, bringing a 17-1 overall record and a 9-0 run through PSAC play.
TICKET PRICES
Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online
HERE.
Adult General Admission: $10
Visiting Student with valid student ID: $5
Ages 6-High School: $5
Ages 6 and Under: FREE
SRU Students: FREE with valid student ID
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Wednesday's game live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
GAME 12 OF 25
Opponent: No. 3 Gannon
Date: Wednesday – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Morrow Field House
Live Video: Rock Athletics Digital Network
Live Stats: Slippery Rock Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Gannon leads, 43-12
Last Played: Feb. 1, 2023 (SRU lost, 77-63)
SERIES HISTORY vs. GANNON
Wednesday will mark the 56th all-time meeting between The Rock and the Golden Knights, a series that Gannon has controlled with a 43-12 record.
The Golden Knights enter on a six-game winning streak against SRU, with Slippery Rock last claiming victory in 2019 at home in a 71-67 game.
Slippery Rock is 8-15 when playing Gannon at home, winning two of the last 10 matchups in Morrow Field House.
LAST MEETING WITH THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Rock traveled to No. 23 Gannon Feb. 1, 2023, suffering a 77-63 loss. Slippery Rock paced the Golden Knights through the first half, entering halftime with a 36-32 advantage. Gannon bounced back with a 27-17 third quarter effort, eventually pulling away late in the game to earn the 14-point win.
Deleah Gibson led SRU with 23 points in what was her third 20-point game in four contests.
WHERE THEY STAND
| TEAM COMPARISON |
| THE ROCK |
STAT |
GOLDEN KNIGHTS |
| 53.2 (17th) |
Points per Game |
74.2 (2nd) |
| 68.3 (13th) |
Opp. Points per Game |
53.4 (1st) |
| .354 (16th) |
Field Goal Pct. |
.462 (1st) |
| .444 (16th) |
Opp. Field Goal Pct. |
.352 (3rd) |
| .238 (16th) |
3-Point Pct. |
.337 (2nd) |
| .301 (12th) |
Opp 3-Point Pct. |
.261 (4th) |
| 5.1 (12th) |
3-Pointers Made per Game |
6.4 (7th) |
| .637 (17th) |
Free Throw Pct. |
.770 (1st) |
| 30.1 (18th) |
Rebounds per Game |
37.7 (8th) |
| 41.2 (16th) |
Opp. Rebounds per Game |
31.9 (2nd) |
| -11.1 (17th) |
Rebounding Margin |
+5.7 (4th) |
| 10.8 (14th) |
Assists |
14.1 (6th) |
| +0.3 (9th) |
Turnover Margin |
+4.1 (2nd) |
| 7.6 (11th) |
Steals |
10.9 (1st) |
| 1.1 (18th) |
Blocks |
3.4 (8th) |
| Per game averages (Rank in PSAC) |
THE ROCK BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 1-10
PSAC Record: 1-7
PSAC West Standings: 8
th
Home Record: 1-5
Away Record: 0-5
Streak: L4
Last Five Games: 1-4
Head Coach: Ryenn Micaletti | First season at SRU (1-10)
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock lost to California (Pa.) at home last week in a 74-53 decision. The Vulcans led 45-12 at halftime but were outscored by SRU in the second half, 41-29.
Despite the loss,
Regan Atkins led The Rock with a career-high 20 points, which was also a season-high for the team. She was accompanied by
Endya Robinson, who recorded Slippery Rock's first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Emily Venick led SRU with three steals and a personal-best six assists.
Anye Washington chipped in eight points while
Kaylin Venick contributed seven points and two steals.
LEADING THE ROCK
Atkins continues to lead SRU in scoring, after improving her average to 14.7 points per game. Joining her in double figures is
Kristina Donza with 11.4 points per game. Donza also leads the team in 3-point shooting with 1.5 3-point field goals per game.
After adding a personal-best six assists in the 14
th start of her career,
Emily Venick surged to tops on the team with two assists per game. Her sister,
Kaylin Venick, leads the team defensively with 1.3 steals per contest.
Endya Robinson has maintained her role as the team's top rebounder, pulling in 5.3 boards per game.
TOP FRESHMAN SHOOTER IN DIVISION II
In addition to leading Slippery Rock in scoring, Atkins continues to pave the way among all freshman in the PSAC with 14.7 points per game. The New Castle, Pennsylvania native ranks 14th in scoring throughout the entire conference and seventh in the PSAC West.
Points per game among all PSAC freshmen:
1. Regan Atkins, Slippery Rock (14.7)
2. Autumn Taylor, Clarion (10.2)
3. Katie Sheeler, Mansfield University (10.1)
4. Kara Wehner, Shepherd University (8.5)
5. Nina Shaw, California (Pa.) (8.2)
After converting 7-of-12 (.583) against California, Atkins has now shot above 50 percent from the floor in nine of SRU's 11 games this season. Nationally, she ranks second among all freshmen in field goal percentage and 37th among all Division II student-athletes.
Field goal percentage among all Division II freshmen:
1. Atreonia Garner, Clark Atlanta University (58.4%)
2. Regan Atkins, Slippery Rock (54.3%)
3. Ane Valle, Felician College (50.0%)
4. Taylor Haggan, St. Mary's University (Texas) (49.7%)
5. Bridie McCann, Chestnut Hill College (46.3%)
CONSISTENT BALL SECURITY
Slippery Rock ranks fourth in the PSAC West and fifth in the entirety of the conference in committing turnovers at only 16.8 per game.
The Rock have committed 15 or fewer turnovers in five games this season and have fewer or equal to the number of turnovers from its opponents in seven games.
Additionally, SRU ranks ninth in the PSAC in forced turnovers with 16.8 to create a +0.3 turnover margin that also ranks ninth in the conference.
Four players average at least one steal per game:
Kaylin Venick (1.3), Robinson (1.1),
Gabby Jackson (1.1) and Atkins (1.0).
SIX STEALS IN A QUARTER
As a team, Slippery Rock came away with six of its eight steals in the fourth quarter against California (Pa.). This marked just the 11th time in program history that Slippery Rock has had six steals in a single quarter.
The Rock have stolen the ball seven times in a single quarter twice before. SRU held Elizabeth City State University to a game-low 17 points in the second quarter after accumulating seven steals in an 80-79 loss Nov. 11, 2018.
Slippery Rock also tallied seven steals in the fourth quarter against Indiana University (Pa.) a year ago to secure a 52-48 victory at home.
ROCK STARS OF RECENT
• Robinson became the 35th different player for SRU since the 2002-03 season to record a double-double by matching a career-high 11 rebounds against California.
• By tying her season-high seven points,
Kaylin Venick became the third different leader in all-time scoring at Slippery Rock among active players in as many games. The team captain also tied her career-high by making three free throws.
•
Emily Venick's career-best six assists against Cal was also a team-high on the season. Venick additionally registered three steals in a game for the third time of her career.
• In Atkins' 20-point day, the true freshman broke another personal record by making five free throws.
•
Anye Washington posted her third career assist in her eight-point performance off the bench versus California.
•
Deryn Moye recorded her second career free throw against the Vulcans in as many trips to the foul line in her career.
SHOOTING ABOVE 40 PERCENT
Slippery Rock shot 19-of-47 (.404) against California, marking the third game above 40 percent from the floor.
All three of SRU's top-shooting performances have taken place in the confines of Morrow Field House, with Slippery Rock shooting 23-of-55 (.418) in its two-point loss to Shepherd and going 18-of-44 (.409) in The Rock's 49-32 victory over Shippensburg a day later Dec. 19.
THE ROCK vs. RANKED TEAMS
A win against Gannon would mark SRU's 11th win over a nationally ranked team since 1982. Slippery Rock most recently defeated No. 10 California (Pa.) Feb. 2, 2019 in a 72-61 victory at Morrow Field House. At No. 10, the Vulcans were the highest-ranked opponent SRU has beaten.
Last five ranked wins:
Feb. 1, 2019 vs. No. 10 California (Pa.) (72-61)
Jan. 4, 2009 at No. 15 Shippensburg University (70-61)
Feb. 16, 2000 vs. No. 10 Indiana (Pa.) (89-78)
Feb. 20, 1999 at No. 20 Shippensburg (67-64)
Feb. 4, 1998 vs. No. 22 Edinboro (86-80)
THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 17-1
PSAC Record: 9-0
PSAC West Standings: 1
st
Home Record: 7-1
Away Record: 7-0
Streak: W14
Last Five Games: 5-0
Head Coach: Cleve Wright | 16
th season at Gannon (341-120, .740)
GANNON SCOUTING REPORT
The Golden Knights will be looking for their 15th consecutive victory Wednesday, having begun the season going 3-1. Gannon's lone loss came in its home-opener to No. 23 Glenville State in a slim 74-70 loss.
Gannon is 3-1 against ranked teams, claiming victories over No. 19 Angelo State University, No. 5 University of Tampa and No. 9 West Chester University.
Through their 9-0 run in PSAC play, the Golden Knights have averaged a scoring margin of +22.3. On the year, Gannon has held its opponents to under 40 points four times and under 50 points seven times.
The Golden Knights offense is guided by Samantha Pirosko, who ranks third in the PSAC with 17.2 points per game. The redshirt senior from Eastlake, Ohio is also fifth in the conference with a 52.6 field goal percentage and second in the PSAC from the foul line, making 80-of-94 (.851) of her free throws.
Pirosko also leads the team with 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
Gannon excels on both sides of the court, ranking second in scoring offense with 74.2 points per game and first in scoring defense by holding the opposition to 53.4 points per game, which is also sixth in Division II. On top of that, GU ranks first in the PSAC with 10.9 steals per game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Slippery Rock will take to the road when it travels to Pitt-Johnstown 1 p.m. Saturday.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
