Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

CLARION - Five players scored in double figures and a sixth added nine assists, as the Clarion University women's basketball team kept its PSAC Playoff hopes alive with a 75-69 win over visiting Mercyhurst Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.

Sara Pratt led Clarion (10-14 overall, 4-7 PSAC-West) with 19 points and 15 rebounds while also blocking two shots. Katrina Greer added 16 points and three assists, Bethany Koch had 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists and Lizzie Suwala had 13 points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench. Freshman Courtney Healy added 11 points, seven rebounds, a blocked shot and two steals, and Shaina Smith set up the offense with a career-high nine assists while adding one point and a blocked shot. The sophomore point guard only turned the ball over twice.

Mercyhurst (9-15, 3-8) led 46-43 with 9:32 left in the game, but Clarion went on an 18-6 run to take a double-digit advantage, 61-49, with 4:26 to play. Greer and Koch teamed up to score 11 points during the run with Greer scoring six and Koch five.

The Lakers made one last charge cutting the lead to six with 1:06 to play, but Clarion hit free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Amy Achesinski led all scorers with 29 points and completed a monster double-double by adding 15 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end for Mercyhurst. She also had four assists, a block and a steal. Stephanie Prischak added 12 points, while Nikki Frederickson added 10 points off the bench.

Clarion closes out its home season Sunday when it hosts Slippery Rock. Tip-off for the Senior Day game is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES - Clarion's 20th year head coach Gie Parsons is now two wins shy of her 300th at Clarion. She is 298-252 at the helm of the Golden Eagles and 408-325 in 28 years as a head coach ... With the win, Clarion remains a game back of Slippery Rock (10-14, 5-6) for fourth place in the PSAC-West. The top four make the PSAC Playoffs. The Golden Eagles are tied with Edinboro for fifth place. Clarion finishes the season at home with Slippery Rock and then on the road at Lock Haven and Edinboro. If the Golden Eagles win out, they will qualify for the PSAC Playoffs for the second straight year and for the fifth time in eight years.