Feb. 7, 2010
Box Score
CLARION - Kierstin Filla's layup with seven seconds left ruined Lizzie Suwala's third straight 28-point game and lifted IUP to an 84-83 win over Clarion Sunday afternoon at Clarion's Tippin Gym.
Clarion (11-10 overall, 2-6 PSAC-West) had three chances to win the game in the final three seconds but layup attempts by Suwala, Rachel Graeff and Janelle Zabresky among flying bodies in the paint all rolled off the rim.
IUP (13-7, 6-2) overcame an 18-point deficit in the final 13:53 thanks in part to a pair of technical fouls called on the Golden Eagles. IUP took advantage of the technicals to score seven of a possible eight points surrounding them.
Despite the IUP comeback attempt, Clarion still led for most of the second half before IUP took its first lead of the game on an Eryn Withers layup with 1:10 to play, 80-79.
Suwala put Clarion back in front 81-80 with a layup with 53 seconds left before a pair of Hillary Shope free throws got IUP the lead back at 82-81 with 26 seconds to play. Clarion then retook the lead at 83-82 on two Zabresky free throws with 14 seconds to play before Filla drove the court and hit the eventual game-winning shot seconds later.
Clarion led 63-45 following two Aleya Miller free throws with 13:53 to play before IUP went on a 21-5 run to close to within two, 68-66, on a basket by Filla with 6:11 left following a technical foul on Suwala.
The Golden Eagles rebounded a little getting the lead back to five, 71-66, on free throws by Pratt and Graeff.
After that, the game settled into a back-and-forth affair for the final five minutes.
Graeff added 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for Clarion, with Bethany Koch and Zabresky each adding 11 points. Zabresky also had nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Sara Pratt added seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks and four steals.
Withers had 22 points and nine rebounds off the bench to lead IUP, while Sarah Pastorek added 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Lacey Claar chipped n 15 points and six rebounds, while Filla had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and Shope 11 points and four rebounds.
Clarion returns to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts California, while IUP hosts Lock Haven at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
NOTES - Suwala's 28 points ties a career high that was set Jan. 30 vs. Edinboro and Wednesday at Lock Haven ... Suwala is the first Clarion player to score 25 or more points in three straight games since at least the start of the 2000 season ... Suwala has scored in double digits in 17 straight games ... Suwala is now four points shy of 900 in her career including 724 at Clarion and 172 at IUP.
