SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – After trailing by as many as 10 points, the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team earned a 62-60 win over Clarion Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
The win marks SRU's first win within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division of the season, improving to 2-12 overall and 2-9 in PSAC play. Clarion fell to 0-18 overall and 0-12 inside the conference.
 
Regan Atkins posted a career-high 23 points in the victory, shooting 8-of-16 (.500) from the floor. The true freshman also reined in her first career double-double with a team-leading 10 rebounds in addition to notching two assists and a steal.
 
Endya Robinson recorded a personal record as well with 14 points on the night, shooting 7-of-13 (.538) from the hardwood. Robinson brought down seven rebounds with a team-high six defensive boards. She also led the way in takeaways with three steals on top of claiming the first block in her time at Slippery Rock. 
 
Rounding out the double-digit scorers was Gabby Jackson, chipping in 10 points in the contest. Kaylin Venick was consistent in creating offensive plays, leading The Rock by tallying a career-best five assists. 
 
A pair of free throws by Atkins marked the first points of the game 1:14 into action to give SRU an early 2-0 lead. Venick registered her lone basket of the night in a 4-4 equalizing bucket before Deryn Moye stormed to the cup to convert an and-1 play that gave SRU a 7-6 advantage.
 
Slippery Rock did not squander the lead until Clarion's Sadre'a Rougeau hit a 3-pointer with 1:08 to play in the first quarter giving the Golden Eagles a lead not to be surrendered until the fourth quarter. Rougeau would go on to be Clarion's leading scorer on the night with 15 points.
 
Clarion extended a 14-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter to a 28-23 lead by halftime after SRU went 3-of-13 (.231) in the second period.
 
SRU outscored the Golden Eagles in the third quarter, 19-16, cutting the deficit to 44-42 by the end of the frame. The comeback effort would not be without its struggles, though, as Clarion opened up a 10-point advantage with 6:44 to play in the third quarter after beginning the half by making six of its first seven attempts (.857).  
 
SRU tore back by ending the third quarter on an 11-3 run of its own, including seven points from Atkins.
 
The game tied at two different times in the early stages of the fourth quarter before Slippery Rock tilted the momentum in favor of the Green and White with back-to-back scoring drives from Atkins and Jackson to give SRU a 50-48 lead with 6:10 to play.
 
The Golden Eagles knotted the score on two more occasions before The Rock consumed 3:41 off the game clock with an 8-0 scoring outburst. Clarion made things interesting late with a pair of 3-balls in the final 1:08 before Kristina Donza secured victory with two free throws with just 14 seconds remaining.
 
Clarion tried to use that 14 seconds to put up four quick points but settled for a layup at the buzzer after missing a 3-point attempt.
 
SRU shot just slightly better than Clarion in total, going 24-of-61 (.393) as opposed to the Golden Eagles' 25-of-65 (.385). From the 3-point arc, Slippery Rock struggled with a 1-of-17 (.059) showing up against the fourth-ranked 3-point shooting team in the PSAC, which went 7-of-28 (.250).
 
Despite being outrebounded 40-38, Slippery Rock found success at the foul line going 13-of-17 (.765) against the Golden Eagles who went just 3-of-4 (.750) at the stripe.
 
Slippery Rock will now embark on a two-game road trip beginning 1 p.m. Saturday at Indiana University (Pa.). SRU swept the Crimson Hawks last season including a 70-57 road victory.




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