Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Clarion took advantage of a 24-13 advantage in turnovers to pull away for a 61-48 win over Slippery Rock in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division opener for both teams Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.

The Rock (2-11, 0-1 PSAC) ran out to a 7-0 lead over the first five minutes of the game and held Clarion (4-9, 1-0 PSAC) to just one point for the first 8:40, but the Golden Eagles rallied to take a 20-19 lead at halftime, a lead they would never relinquish.

Danielle Smith led Slippery Rock with 10 points and seven rebounds before fouling out of the game midway through the second half. Sherita Stanley added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Marlynda Harland also chipped in eight points.

Shannon Lee added six points and seven assists and Emilee Vitez chipped in six points and matched Stanley with nine rebounds.

The Rock connected on 19-of-51 attempts from the field for a shooting efficiency of 37.3 percent. SRU made just 2-of-15 attempts from the 3-point arc and was 8-of-12 at the free throw line.

Clarion connected on 24-of-64 attempts from the field for a shooting percentage of 37.5, which included 6-of-20 from behind the 3-point arc. The Golden Eagles hit 7-of-9 free throws.

Raven Jones led two players in double figures for Clarion with a game-high 22 points. Lauren Savulchak added 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double off the bench.

Stanley scored five of the first seven points as SRU opened the game with a 7-0 lead at the 15:14 mark, but Clarion responded with the next six points to cut the lead to 7-6 with 10:50 to play in the half.

After The Rock pushed the lead to 9-6, the Golden Eagles pushed back to tie the game for the first time at 9-9 with 9:10 before the break.

Slippery Rock responded again, this time with a 6-0 run to retake the lead, 15-9, with 7:07 left in the half. Clarion answered again, chipping away at the lead before Mackenzie Clark's last-second layup gave the visitors their first lead of the game, 20-19.

Clarion opened the second half and pushed the lead out to seven points at 28-21 with 16:12 to play, but a resilient Rock squad rallied back to tie the game for just the second time, at 41-41 with 9:08 to play, but shortly after that Smith picked up back-to-back fouls to foul out of the game.

The decisive run of the game came from the Golden Eagles over the next four minutes. The visitors put together a 9-0 run to push the lead out to 50-41 with 5:26 to play, a lead that proved to be insurmountable for The Rock.

Wednesday's game marked the final in a three-game homestand for SRU, which will now hit the road for its next two games. The Rock will travel to Indiana (Pa.) Saturday and Lock Haven next Wednesday for PSAC-West contests.