SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team was downed by No. 8 Gannon University, 72-51, Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.

With the loss, Slippery Rock fell to 6-13 overall and 4-9 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, while Gannon improved to 20-2 overall and 12-1 in the PSAC.

Iyanna Wade led Slippery Rock in scoring for the eighth time this season with a career-high 23 points. The last time a Rock freshman scored 23 or more points was Regan Atkins in the 2023-24 season against Seton Hill University. Wade also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and picked up one steal.

Mairan Haggerty also finished in double-digits with 10 points for SRU. This was Haggerty's second straight start as the junior also came down with two rebounds.

Sophia Hook finished with seven points, five rebounds and one assist, while Alyssa Gillin ended the contest with five points and six rebounds. Gillin extended her streak of consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 10. The senior is now in 10^th place on SRU's consecutive games with a made 3-pointer list.

Off the bench, Kayley Joseph-Bernard and Laney Bone combined for six points and seven rebounds. Joseph-Bernard also ended the game with five assists and three steals.

The Golden Knights jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first 3:50 of the game. The Rock countered with an 8-2 run off four points from Hook and two each from Wade and Haggerty, bringing the game to an 11-10 Gannon advantage. The Golden Knights scored six of the final eight points of the quarter. Wade hit what appeared to be a buzzer-beater at the end of the frame, but the freshman didn't get the shot off in time.

Slippery Rock opened the second quarter with a Haggerty jumper to cut Gannon's lead to 16-14. The Golden Knights then scored 21 of the next 26 points to end the half, giving themselves a 37-19 halftime advantage.

In the second half, The Rock traded baskets with the nationally ranked Golden Knights throughout the entirety of the third and fourth quarters as Gannon added just three points to close out a 72-51 victory.

Slippery Rock ended the game shooting 34 percent (18-of-53) from the field overall, 31.3 percent (5-for-16) from the 3-point line and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the charity stripe. 

Gannon finished the tilt shooting 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the floor overall, 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the foul line. 

Bri Claxton scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed a game-high four steals for the Golden Knights. Jordan Popyk (14) and Maddy Wheatley (10) also scored in double-digits for Gannon.

Slippery Rock returns to the court for PSAC West competition 1 p.m. Feb. 7 at Morrow Field House against Pitt-Johnstown. Earlier this season, the Mountain Cats took down The Rock, 82-70. Feb. 7 will serve as The Rock's Alumnae Day and Rock Athletic Club Game. After the game, Slippery Rock will hold its portion of the PSAC's year-long 75^th Anniversary celebration.  




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