Slippery Rock women’s basketball fell to No. 8-ranked Gannon University on the road Wednesday night, 66-31.
Jordan Popyk opened the scoring for the Golden Knights on their first possession, completing an and-one opportunity following a layup just 26 seconds into the contest.
Another free throw from Kate Ratliff extended the GU lead to 4-0 early, before Marian Haggerty would respond with a free throw of her own and getting The Rock on the scoreboard.
Gannon would take the next eight points over the course of the following five minutes of play, before a layup from SRU senior Karianna Woods cut the deficit to nine.
Despite the response, the Golden Knights would secure the final points of the first quarter behind a three-point shot from Tori Mayes with 18 seconds remaining.
After a pair of free throws from Ratliff brought the GU lead to 17-3, Rock freshman Claudia Ierullo knocked down the team’s first three-point field goal of the game.
Gannon would take control over the following four minutes, outscoring Slippery Rock 14-4.
An attempted buzzer beater from freshman Iyanna Wade would fall short of the basket, leaving GU leading at the intermission, 37-18.
A quick bucket from Kayley Joseph-Bernard cut the deficit to 17, before Ratliff would respond 14 seconds later with a three-point shot.
The Golden Knights would continue to outpace The Rock, ending the third quarter ahead 51-26.
Gannon would continue their dominance on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter, outscoring SRU 15-5.
Despite a three-point shot from Hannah Pugliese sinking through the net as time expired, Gannon reigned victorious, 66-31.
Slippery Rock shot 19.1% from the field, compared to Gannon’s 47.3%.
Joseph-Bernard led The Rock with eight points and six rebounds.
With the loss, Rock women’s basketball falls to 7-16 overall on the season and 5-12 in conference play.
Slippery Rock sits just two games out of sixth place in the PSAC West and the final spot in the conference tournament.
SRU will return home to the Morrow Field House on Saturday when they take on the Golden Griffins of Seton Hill University.
