Feb. 22, 2009
Box Score
CLARION - A valiant Clarion University women's basketball team comeback attempt fell just short in a 64-61 loss to visiting Slippery Rock Sunday afternoon at Tippin Gym.
The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 26 in the first half and were still down 39-20 at halftime and 46-29 with 15:02 to play.
But Clarion went on a 30-11 run to take a 59-57 lead on a Sara Pratt layup with 5:16 to play. Lizzie Suwala had 10 points during the run, while Bethany Koch had seven.
Slippery Rock, however, responded by ending the game on a 7-2 run taking the lead for good on two Amanda Nero free throws with 1:41 to play.
Clarion had two shots at a game-tying three in the final 10 seconds. But Katrina Greer's off-balance attempt with six seconds to play was partially blocked out of bounds, and Suwala's attempt from 35-feet at the horn was well short.
Slippery Rock took a 39-20 halftime lead thanks to a combination of strong shooting and cold shooting from the Golden Eagles. The Rock shot 51.5 percent in the first half, while Clarion hit just 6 of 40 first-half shots (15 percent). But the Golden Eagles battled back in the second half outscoring Slippery Rock 41-25.
A pair of Golden Eagles recorded double-doubles. Koch had 19 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals, while Suwala added 10 points, 11 rebounds and two steals off the bench. Sara Pratt chipped in with seven points, 16 rebounds, four steals, two assists and three blocked shots. Rachel Graeff also added seven points off the bench, while Katrina Greer had nine points and six rebounds, all on the offensive end, in her final home game as a Golden Eagles.
Sasha Fields led Slippery Rock with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Amanda Nero had 15 points, Jess Schake nine points and six rebounds and Julie Molloy eight points off the bench.
The loss drops Clarion two games back of Slippery Rock with two to play for the fourth and final playoff spot awarded to the PSAC-West. The Golden Eagles are in a three-way tie for fifth place with Edinboro and Mercyhurst. Clarion concludes the regular season at Lock Haven Wednesday and at Edinboro Saturday.
