Box Score

CLARION, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team opened the second round of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western division games with a 52-45 loss on the road at Clarion Saturday evening.

Clarion (5-15, 2-6 PSAC) and The Rock (3-17, 1-7 PSAC) entered Saturday's game tied at the bottom of the divisional standings with 1-6 records.

Danielle Smith led SRU with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out of the game late in the second half. She also had a team-high four steals. Sherita Stanley added 13 points to cap the double figure scorers.

The Rock shot 32.1 percent from the field, connecting on 17-of-53 attempts, including 3-of-18 from behind the 3-point arc. SRU was 8-of-12 at the free throw line.

Clarion was led by Emma Fickel with a game-high 14 points to go along with six rebounds. Lauren Savulchak added 12 points and Ann Deibert chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles shot 33.3 percent from the floor, hitting 20-of-60 attempts, including 3-of-17 from behind the 3-point arc. Clarion was 9-of-15 at the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles biggest advantage of the game came in the turnover department, where Slippery Rock turned the ball over 24 times to just 15 for the hosts.

The Rock posted a 42-39 edge in total rebounds.

The game was close for nearly the entire duration, including the first half, where each team battled back and forth, with Slippery Rock emerging with a 22-21 halftime lead.

Clarion reversed the fate and held its own one-point lead, 33-32 with 12:51 to play before the Golden Eagles put together a 8-0 run to break the game open, 41-32 with 8:55 to play.

Slippery Rock would never recover from that run, getting no closer than five points the rest of the way.

SRU returns home for its next two divisional games, hosting Lock Haven Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Indiana (Pa.) next Saturday at 1 p.m.