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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team led for the final 32:45 of the game, but never led by double-digits, as it closed out a much needed Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory over Clarion, 78-72, Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.

With the win, Slippery Rock improved to 7-14 overall and 5-10 in the PSAC, while Clarion fell to 12-9 overall and 7-8 in the PSAC with the loss.

With five game remaining in the regular season, Slippery Rock has matched its win total from a season ago. Also, with California's (Pa.) loss to Seton Hill University, The Rock moved to within one game of a PSAC Tournament spot. The top six teams in the PSAC West standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament. The first and second seeds in the standings earn first-round byes and a home game in the quarterfinal round while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds are guaranteed home games in the first round.

Iyanna Wade led The Rock in scoring with 20 points. The freshman also finished with five rebounds, four assists, and tied Kayley Joseph-Bernard with a team-high three steals.

Alyssa Gillin notched her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Gillin's 11 rebounds tied a career-high. Gillin also dished out two assists and came away with one steal. Mairan Haggerty continued her scoring output with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor overall. Haggerty also finished with six rebounds and one assist.

Joseph-Bernard rounded out Slippery Rock's double-digit scorers with 13 points. The senior added 10 rebounds for her third double-double this season, and second in a row. Gillin and Joseph-Bernard are the first set of Rock teammates to have double-doubles in the same game since the duo also accomplished the feat Dec. 6, 2024 against Kutztown University. Joseph-Bernard was also just two assists shy of a triple-double as the forward came away with eight assists as well as two blocks and three steals.

Off the bench, Claudia Ierullo and Karianna Woods combined for eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

SRU and Clarion traded baskets to start the game until the 3:15 mark, where Slippery Rock took a lead (16-15) that it wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the night. Slippery Rock gained its largest lead of the night at nine (61-52) at the end of the third quarter thanks to Ierullo's three-quarter court buzzer-beater.
 

WBB: FROM BEYOND HALF COURT?!?! Claudia Ierullo drains the buzzer beater to give The Rock a 61-52 lead over Clarion heading into the fourth quarter! @ESPNAssignDesk @SportsCenter #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/OubBX3rKZU

— Rock Athletics (@Rock_Athletics) February 11, 2026

In the final frame, Clarion cut Slippery Rock's lead to four points, 76-72, but couldn't get any closer as The Rock closed out a 78-72 victory following a pair of free throws .

Slippery Rock ended the game shooting 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the field overall, 20.8 percent (5-for-24) from the 3-point line and 65.4 percent (17-of-26) from the charity stripe. 

The Rock scored more points off turnovers (24-9) and fast break points (24-20) than the Golden Eagles. Clarion entered the game forcing 21.4 turnovers per game, but SRU committed just 11 miscues, preventing Clarion from pushing the pace to its liking. Slippery Rock's 24 points off turnovers were a season-high.

Defensively, SRU limited Clarion to 36.2 percent (25-of-69) shooting from the floor overall, 25 percent (8-for-32) from beyond the arc and 70 percent (14-of-20) from the foul line. 

Slippery Rock hits the road for a matchup 1 p.m. Saturday at No. 6 Indiana University (Pa.). Earlier this season, IUP took down The Rock, 100-60, at Morrow Field House.




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