MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team pulled away in the second half at Mansfield Saturday to win its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener, 66-40.

With the win, Slippery Rock improves to 3-4 overall on the season and opens PSAC play 1-0, while Mansfield drops to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC.

The 40 points were the fewest allowed by The Rock since a 49-32 victory over Shippensburg on Dec. 19, 2023. Additionally, The Rock's 26-point victory was the program's largest win since downing Davis & Elkins, 79-42, in last year's season-opener.

This is the second consecutive season SRU has opened conference play with a victory, as The Rock defeated West Chester University, 69-56, a season ago.

Kayley Joseph-Bernard led SRU with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals. Iyanna Wade (14), Alyssa Gillin (11) and Mairan Haggerty (10) scored in double-figures for The Rock as well.

Sophia Hook and Karianna Woods scored six points apiece, while Deryn Moye and Hannah Pugliese each put in two points as everybody who stepped on the court for Slippery Rock on the day scored.

Hook paced The Rock with a career-high 12 rebounds. Wade was one rebound short of a double-double as the freshman grabbed nine boards and dished out five assists to go along with her 14 points.

Woods led SRU defensively with four steals and two blocks.

Mansfield scored the opening two points, but that would be the only lead it would hold as Slippery Rock took a 4-2 lead at the 6:19 mark of the first quarter and led for the rest of the way.

The first half was a low scoring affair as Slippery Rock held a 25-16 lead going into halftime. SRU pulled away in the second half with a 41- 24 advantage in the final two quarters.

Outside of the third quarter, Slippery Rock held Mansfield to under 10 points in each frame, including a four-point fourth quarter. Four points is the lowest scoring quarter the Slippery Rock defense has forced since last season's finale against Edinboro when the Fighting Scots were limited to four points in the third quarter.

Slippery Rock ended the game shooting 41.4 percent (29-of-70) from the field overall, 16 percent (4-for-25) from the 3-point line and 100 percent (4-of-4) from the charity stripe.

Slippery Rock protected the ball well as it had more assists (14) than turnovers (10) for the first time this season.

SRU dominated the paint as it outscored the Mountaineers 44-to-24 inside. The Rock also finished with a +6 margin (15-9) on second chance points.

Mansfield finished the tilt shooting 21.7 percent (13-of-60) from the floor overall, 5.6 percent (1-for-18) from beyond the arc and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the foul line.

Katie Sheeler led Mansfield with a game-high 18 points. Delilah Nazih (9) and Tyarah Woody (8) rounded out the Mountaineers top three scorers.

Slippery Rock continues PSAC crossover play 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Morrow Field House against Shepherd University.



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