SRU women’s basketball kept a close battle for a majority of the game against Clarion University, before falling 76-58 at Morrow Field House Wednesday night.
Marain Haggerty led the Rock with a total of 12 points, but it was not enough to take down the Golden Eagles.
Clarion started the scoring in the second minute of the game, with a layup by Siara Conley. The Golden Eagles added three more points from a layup by Autumn Taylor and an added free-throw before SRU tallied their first points.
Alyssa Gillin opened the scoring for the White and Green by hitting a mid-ranged jumpshot, bringing the score to 5-2.
Through the mid-way part of the first quarter, SRU went on a 6-0 run, taking their first and only lead of the game at 8-6.
The lead lasted 24 seconds before the Golden Eagles countered with their own 8-0 run, leading 14-8. Clarion never looked back after this and had the lead for the rest of the game.
Clarion’s Zoe Guice just barely beat the buzzer at the end of the first quarter, scoring a layup to end the quarter with Clarion leading 18-12.
Deryn Moye of SRU knocked down the first three-pointer for either team in the first few minutes of the second quarter. It was quickly countered by a three-pointer from Clarion.
SRU sparked a comeback in the second quarter, but suffered a late foul that brought the score to 37-29 at half with Clarion leading.
The Rock continued to hold up well. Brooklyn Jones tallied three points on an and one with 5:11 remaining in the third, to cut the lead to 39-36. Those were Jones’ final points of the night, bringing her season total to 163 so far.
The hope was short-lived after Clarion answered back with a three and finished the third quarter on a 9-1 run, ending the quarter with a 51-39 lead.
Clarion began to run away in the fourth, shooting 6-7 from behind the arc. Madison Palek finished the scoring with a layup, bringing the score to 76-58.
The Rock will look to get back in the win column at Indiana University (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon.
