Jan. 9, 2010
Box Score
CLARION - A record-setting defensive effort led the Clarion University women's basketball team to a 65-24 win over visiting Mansfield Saturday afternoon at Tippin Gym.
The 24 points allowed are the fewest permitted by the Golden Eagles (8-4) in the shot-clock era and are tied for the third fewest allowed in school history.
Clarion led 38-13 at halftime and then outscored Mansfield (3-8) 27-11 in the second half. The Golden Eagles defense forced 27 turnovers while blocking 12 shots, which is tied for the second most blocks in a game in school history.
Meanwhile, Clarion's offense hit 9 of 16 3-pointers, the third most three's for the Eagles this season, including 4 of 5 from Bethany Koch, who scored a game-high 16 points. Lizzie Suwala added 11 tallies for Clarion with Sara Pratt getting nine points, Rachel Graeff chipping in eight and Jillian Taylor and Janelle Zabresky seven each. The seven were a career high for Taylor, while Zabresky added a game-best 13 rebounds. On defense, Courtney Healy tied a season high with five blocked shots while adding two steals, and Rachel Skolny had a career high five steals. Koch, Graeff, Suwala and Pratt all added two blocks apiece.
Julia Stevenson led Mansfield with seven points and five rebounds off the bench, while Mallory Moore and Tegan Atallaj each added six points. The Mountaineers shot 22 percent (11 of 50) from the floor.
Clarion's defense was strong from the beginning with the Golden Eagles holding Mansfield without a point until a Moore layup with 13:24 left off a steal cut Clarion's early lead to 8-2.
That lead quickly grew to 19 thanks to an 18-5 run before Clarion ended the half on a 10-0 run to lead by 25 at halftime.
Clarion then started the second half on a 7-0 run to get the lead to 30, 45-15, with 15:26 left. The Golden Eagles then ended the game on a 9-0 run over the final 6:06.
The Golden Eagles return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when they host Bloomsburg, while Mansfield is at Gannon at 1 p.m. Sunday.
NOTES - The previous school-record for fewest points allowed during the shot-clock era occurred 15 years ago to the day. Clarion beat Cheyney 81-31 Jan. 9, 1995, at Tippin Gym ... The school record for fewest points allowed in a game is 21 vs. Mercyhurst during the 1975-76 season. Clarion won that game 69-21. The Eagles also allowed 22 points in a 77-22 win vs. Gannon in the 1976-77 season and 24 points in the first game in school history, a 45-24 win over Seton Hill during the 1973-74 campaign ... The school record for blocks in a game is 13 set Jan. 23, 2008, vs. Lock Haven ... It marks the third time Clarion has blocked 12 shots in a game, the last time prior to Saturday being Dec. 15, 2007, vs. Lake Erie College.
