ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team fell 85-45 to nationally ranked Gannon University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division matchup on the road Wednesday.
 
The loss moves The Rock to 2-18 on the year with a 2-15 record within the PSAC. The Golden Knights picked up their 22^nd win in 23 games, improving to 25-2 overall and 17-1 in conference play.
 
Regan Atkins anchored Slippery Rock's offense with 17 points while also leading the team with five rebounds and a block.
 
Kristina Donza chipped in a 14-point performance, going 3-of-5 from the 3-point arc for the second straight game. She joined Emily Venick in contributing a team-high three assists.
 
Endya Robinson earned four rebounds for the Green and White while both Deryn Moye and Duda Raimundo brought down three boards of their own.
 
Gannon held The Rock scoreless through the first 7:01 of the game after creating a 9-0 lead early on. A free throw from Hallie Raabe got SRU on the board, but the Golden Knights foreshadowed the remainder of the game by concluding the first quarter with their fourth made 3-pointer.
 
Just moments before the first quarter buzzer, Donza was able to tack on an impressive 3-point bank shot from just short of halfcourt that cut the score to 19-9.
 
Slippery Rock struggled to keep up with the Golden Knights in the second quarter as GU shot 4-of-4 from the perimeter and 9-of-13 (.692) overall from the floor. SRU was able to put together a 5-4 advantage 3:15 into the second frame but ultimately found itself with a 41-18 halftime deficit.
 
61.5 percent field goal shooting in the third quarter allowed the Golden Knights to pick up right where they left off, outscoring Slippery Rock, 21-8, and extending the margin to 62-26.
 
A pair of Donza free throws and a Tori Johnson jumper gave Slippery Rock a quick four-point run at the outset of the final period. In a game-high 19-point effort from SRU, The Rock concluded the fourth quarter with two successful free throws taken by Kelley McKnight and a 3-pointer knocked down by Anye Washington.
 
Slippery Rock shot 16-of-55 (.291) on the day and 6-of-19 (.316) from the 3-point arc. Gannon's consistency on the court left them going 31-of-57 (.544) overall and 15-of-28 (.536) from deep. The Golden Knights also benefitted 8-of-9 (.889) times at the foul line over SRU's 7-of-12 (.583) showing.
 
Gannon utilized 11 different scorers with five reaching double figures. Bri Claxon led the squad with 16 points, shooting 6-of-6 in the game. Andrea Maibach gave the Golden Knights 11 points and a team-best six rebounds off the bench, adding to Gannon's 32 total bench points.
 
Slippery Rock will be back on the court 1 p.m. Saturday at Morrow Field House to host Pitt-Johnstown. Donza will be celebrated prior to tipoff as part of Senior Day. The team will also be honoring Black History Month and taking part in SRU's National Girls and Women in Sports Day festivities.  




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