ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team dropped its season-opener to the University of Charleston, 64-52, Saturday at the Atlantic Region Challenge, hosted by Gannon University.
The Rock fell to 0-1 on the season, while the Golden Eagles start the year 1-0.
Iyanna Wade led SRU in scoring in her first career game with 13 points while shooting 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Wade grabbed two rebounds and two steals in 40 minutes of action.
Sophia Hook and
Alyssa Gillin both scored 12 points to round out The Rock's double-digit scores. Hook shot 5-for-10 from the field overall and 2-of-4 from the 3-point line while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Gillin matched Hook with five made field goals and two made 3-pointers.
Along with Hook,
Kayley Joseph-Bernard grabbed nine rebounds, as well as dishing out five assists, making two steals and blocking one shot, all of which were team-highs.
The game started with each team earning and-one baskets in the first 30 seconds. Paris Stokes converted on her and-one for Charleston and Hook responded with a made three-pointer plus the foul, but was unable to convert on the free throw.
Slippery Rock took its first lead at 8-7 off a Wade layup. SRU ended the first quarter with a 17-15 advantage after Wade hit a 3-pointer with three second to play in the frame.
The Rock started the second quarter on a 7-0 run to bring their lead to 24-15. The Golden Eagles responded with a 17-6 run to end the first half and take a 32-30 lead into the break.
Charleston outscored SRU 32-22 in the second half, bringing the game to a 64-52 end.
Slippery Rock ended the game shooting 30.6 percent (19-of-62) from the field overall, 35 percent (7-of-20) and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the foul line.
SRU forced 20 Charleston turnovers, opposed Slippery Rock's 13 giveaways. Slippery Rock ended with seven steals to Charleston's six and both teams blocked one shot. The Rock scored six more points than the Golden Eagles off turnovers (14-8).
Charleston shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the floor overall, 20 percent (3-of-15) from beyond the arc and 88.2 percent (15-for-17) from the charity stripe.
The Golden Eagles controlled the boards as they finished with a +23 on the glass (51-28).
Charleston was led by Stokes with 15 points, seven assists and a game-high three steals. Bridget Womber put in 10 points in 10 minutes, and was the only other Golden Eagle with double-digit points.
Slippery Rock will look for its first win of the season in its second Atlantic Region Challenge matchup 2 p.m. Sunday in Erie, Pennsylvania against Davis & Elkins College.
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