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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division champion and 23rd-ranked Edinboro University rolled to an easy 84-45 win Saturday afternoon over hosting Slippery Rock University in women's basketball action in Morrow Field House.

The win was Edinboro's ninth straight and improved the Fighting Scots' season records to 23-3 overall, 13-1 against division rivals.

The Scots will host Mercyhurst in an opening-round game of the conference tournament Tuesday.

Saturday's loss was the eighth straight suffered by The Rock and gave the Green and White final season records of 3-23 overall, 1-13 in PSAC-West action.

Freshman guard Julie Byer scored a team-high 10 points in a substitute role to lead the SRU attack, while junior forward Danielle Smith grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and junior guard Sherita Stanley had eight. Junior guard Shannon Lee handed out five assists.

Darche' Jackson scored a game-high 14 points for Edinboro.

The final margin matched that of the teams' first meeting of the season, when Edinboro won a 77-38 decision, as the most lopsided loss suffered by The Rock this winter.

Early on, though, The Rock stayed with the division champions. SRU trailed by only a 10-8 score after four minutes of action before Edinboro went on a 7-0 run to take a 17-8 lead at the midway mark of the first half.

The Scots later rode a 14-2 run to their largest first-half lead, a 31-14 advantage with 4:30 left, before they took a 10-point (32-22) advantage into the intermission.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the opening 20 minutes of action as The Rock made 35% (8-23) of their shots compared to Edinboro's 39% (12-31).

The Rock was one of three from 3-point range, Edinboro four of 10. SRU shot 57% (4-7) from the foul line, Edinboro 83% (5-6).

SRU held a 20-16 advantage in rebounds but had twice as many turnovers, 18-9.

A 19-2 Edinboro run in the first seven minutes of the second half gave the Scots a 51-24 advantage and completely erased any doubts as to the final outcome.

The Scots' lead was never less than 24 points in the final 13 minutes.

SRU finished the game with a 29% (14-49) efficiency on its field goal attempts, made 25% (3-12) from long range and canned 60% (14-23) of its free throws.

Edinboro hit 46% (32-70) of its field goal tries, 58% (11-19) of its 3-point shots and 56% (9-16) of its free throws.

The Rock held a 45-38 advantage in rebounds but committed 33 turnovers compared to 14 for the Scots, who converted Rock miscues into 31 points. SRU scored 13 points off Edinboro mistakes.

Notes:

Saturday's game was the final one in Rock senior guard Grace Palucis' collegiate career. Palucis played three seasons at SRU after starting her career at Division I University of Delaware.