Jan. 24, 2009

Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK - The Clarion University women's basketball team exploded for 11 3-pointers, the most in five years, and rallied from a 5-point halftime deficit to beat Slippery Rock 72-64 Saturday afternoon at Slippery Rock's Morrow Field House.

The Golden Eagles (6-10 overall, 1-3 PSAC-West) made 11 of 21 treys (52.4 percent) for their best percentage from beyond the arc when taking at least 10 since 2005. The 11 triples were also the most since Clarion hit 11 against Slippery Rock at Morrow Field House Jan. 21, 2004, in a 71-54 victory.

Lizzie Suwala hit four threes on her way to a game-high 22 points. She added six rebounds and five steals. Shaina Smith added three 3-pointers and scored 11 points, while Katrina Greer had two triples on her way to 13 points. Greer added seven rebounds and five assists. Bethany Koch chipped in one 3-pointer and scored 11 points while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists.

Sasha Sales had a double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) to lead Slippery Rock (6-11, 1-3), while Jess Schake added 13 points and Amanda Nero 12.

Clarion trailed 28-23 at halftime after Slippery Rock ended the half with a 23-5 run, and The Rock still led 48-47 with nine minutes to play.

But the Golden Eagles went on an 18-4 run fueled by three 3-pointers, one each by Courtney Healy, Smith and Suwala, to take control of the game.

Clarion returns to action at 6 p.m. Monday when it hosts Urbana in a non-conference game.

NOTES - The last time Clarion hit more than 11 3-pointers in a game was Feb. 16, 2000, when it had 13 in a 101-79 loss at home to Slippery Rock ... The 52.4 percent from beyond the arc was the Golden Eagle's best when taking at least 10 since Jan. 4, 2005, when they hit 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) against West Chester ... Clarion has now hit 10 or more 3-pointers in a game seven times since the 2000 season ... The 1992 Clarion team is the most prolific 3-point shooting team of all time hitting an NCAA Division II record 386 triples that year including an NCAA Division II record 26 in a win over Ashland ... Greer's 13 points moved her into sole possession of sixth place in school history in scoring with 1,257 points. She needs 43 more points to become the sixth player in school history with 1,300 ... Sara Pratt, despite first-half foul trouble, had four rebound giving her 401 in her career ... The win was Clarion head coach Gie Parsons 294th at Clarion and 404th overall ... Clarion has now won five straight over Slippery Rock and 11 of the past 15 meetings including 6 of 8 at Morrow Field House. The teams will rematch at Clarion Feb. 22.