Box Score CLARION – Clarion built a 24-point lead with just under eight minutes to play and then held off a late Mansfield comeback attempt to pick up its third win in the last four games, 79-69, over the Mountaineers Friday night at Tippin Gym.
 
The Golden Eagles (4-7 overall, 3-4 PSAC West) led 65-41 following an Ann Deibert layup with 7:51 to play but watched Mansfield (4-7, 1-6 PSAC East) go on a 26-8 run that was capped by two Mallory Moore free throws following a technical foul on Lauren Savulchak with 36 seconds left to close within six, 73-67.
 
But Savulchak, who was fouled at the same time, hit two free throws to restore the lead to eight starting a game-ending 6-0 spurt from the line for Clarion.
 
Clarion had five players reach double digits including three with 15 or more points led by Emma Fickel's game-high 16 points and Hannah Heeter's first career double-double (15 points, 15 rebounds). Heeter also added three steals, two assists and two blocked shots. Savulchak, in just her third game of the season returning from an injury, also had 15 points including 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. Savulchak added five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Ann Deibert nearly had a double-double for the Golden Eagles with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Mackenzie Clark also added 10 points and four rebounds. PSAC assist leader Raven Jones had six helpers to go with nine points.
 
Moore led Mansfield with 16 points despite shooting 3 of 21 from the floor. She also had eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Julia Stevenson added 13 points and 13 rebounds with Marrysa Moyer also recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.
 
Clarion used a 9-0 run fueled by three triples by Fickel in the final 1:35 of the first half to build a 16-point, 43-27, halftime lead. Fickel hit bombs at 1:35, 56 seconds and 11 seconds of the half.  
 
Mansfield was able to claw its way back to within 10, 49-39, just over four minutes into the second half before Clarion went on the 16-2 run that featured five points from Savulchak and four from Deibert.
 
But behind nine points from Moore, Mansfield was able to get back into the game on the late run.
 
Clarion returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Bloomsburg.
 
NOTES – Clarion held Mansfield to 31.9 percent (22 of 69) shooting helping the Golden Eagles improve on their season defensive percentage of 37.9 percent, which ranks sixth in the PSAC … Clarion is now 4-0 on the season when leading at halftime … The Golden Eagles won the turnover battle 23-24, the first time this year Clarion has had fewer giveaways than an opponent … Clarion has now won two straight PSAC games … The 79 points were a season high for Clarion, while Heeter had career highs in both points and rebounds … Clarion is now 14-3 all time vs. Mansfield including a perfect 8-0 in Clarion.