Nov. 15, 2009

Box Score

CLARION - Bethany Koch scored eight of her team-high 19 points in the final 4:42 to lift the Clarion University women's basketball team to a season-opening 71-63 win over visiting Alderson-Broaddus in the second game of the Clarion Classic Sunday evening at Tippin Gym.

Alderson-Broaddus (0-1) had cut a 10-point Clarion (1-0) second-half lead to one, 57-56, on a Tori Charley layup with 4:57 left. But following a Golden Eagle timeout, Koch a senior who was a preseason All-PSAC-West selection, rose her game scoring on a layup at 4:42 to start a 14-3 run that restored a double-digit lead.

Fellow senior Janelle Zabresky added four points during the key late-game run and finished the night with 16 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal while shooting 8 of 9 in her first game since the end of the 2007-2008 season. She sat out last year.

Rachel Graeff scored 12 of her career-high 18 points in the first seven minutes of the second half to help Clarion turn a 30-25 halftime lead into a 51-41 advantage with 9:35 left. The Golden Eagles still led by 10, 57-47, with 7:30 to play when Alderson-Broaddus answered with a 9-0 run fueled by six points from Charley, who finished with a game-high 23 points to go with nine rebounds, three blocks and an assist.

Amanda Harris added 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Battlers, while Amanda Peoples had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Shaina Smith chipped in seven points, five helpers and three rebounds for Clarion, while Lizzie Suwala and Joanna Catalano each blocked two shots as well helping Clarion block six shots in the game.

The Golden Eagles outscored Alderson-Broaddus 40-24 in the paint while also outdistancing the Battlers in second-chance points (19-9), bench points (23-8) and points of turnovers (18-12).

Gannon won the opening game of the Clarion Classic 65-60 over Bowie St., as Carrie Nolan scored 18 points and Brittany Tarbon had 10 points and 13 rebounds. Teaunsha Robinson led Bowie St. with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Lakisha Walker added 15 points.

The Clarion Classic continues Monday with the Golden Eagles hosting Bowie St. at 4 p.m. and Gannon going against Alderson-Broaddus at 6 p.m.

NOTES - Prior to the game, Clarion athletic director Dave Katis presented the Golden Eagles 21st year head coach Gie Parsons a plaque commemorating her 300th win at Clarion, which she achieved in last season's regular-season finale at Edinboro ... With the win Sunday, Parsons has 301 wins in her Clarion career, the most by any Golden Eagles women's mentor ... Clarion turned the ball over just nine times in the game, the fewest turnovers for the Golden Eagles since Jan. 8, 2005, when they also turned the ball over just nine times in a 86-41 win over visiting Kutztown ... Alderson-Broaddus led 2-0, the only lead the Battlers had all game. The contest was never tied, as Graeff's 3-pointer 1:58 into the game gave Clarion the lead for good.