Box Score SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Emma Fickel had a season-high 18 points, Hannah Heeter recorded her 24^th career double-double and Tania Holmes played an all-around solid game to lead the Clarion women's basketball team to a 74-68 win at Slippery Rock Wednesday night.
 
Fickel nailed a season-best five 3-pointers on her way to her 18 points, Heeter had 15 points and 14 rebounds while recording her 11^th double-double of the year and Holmes had 14 points, a season-best six assists, four steals and four rebounds for Clarion (11-11 overall, 7-9 PSAC West), which has won two straight. Aleya Miller chipped in with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal.
 
Slippery Rock (4-12, 3-13) got a career-best 19 points from Christa Wodarczyk, who was a perfect 5 of 5 from beyond the arc, while Erinne Cunningham added 13 points, six assists and three steals. The Rock hit 13 3-pointers in the game going 13 of 36 from beyond the arc. That helped Slippery Rock dish out 21 assists including 12 by Erica Aiello who also had seven points, five rebounds and three steals. Emilee Vitez had a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
Clarion trailed 56-54 following an Alexis Mayo layup with 7:11 to play. But the Golden Eagles answered with a 14-3 run that featured six points from Fickel on a pair of threes, five from Holmes and three from Heeter.
 
Heeter tied the game at 56 on a jumper with 7:01 left, the fourth and final tie of the game. A Fickel triple 45 seconds later put Clarion ahead for good, and five straight points from Holmes got the lead to eight, 64-56, with 3:11 to play.
 
Aiello answered with a three for Slippery Rock to pull The Rock back within five, 64-59, at the 2:51 mark. But a free-throw by Heeter and a three by Fickel ended any real hopes of a Slippery Rock upset.
 
Clarion found itself down eight, 18-10, seven minutes into the game before using a 14-0 run that featured a pair of Fickel threes to take a 24-18 lead with 8:43 left in the opening half. The Golden Eagles maintained the lead throughout the rest of the half and led 34-32 at the break.  
 
After a Mayo three 17 seconds into the second half put Slippery Rock back ahead by one, Clarion went on a 9-0 run to go up eight, 43-35, with 15:11 to play.
 
But Slippery Rock had one last run in it answering Clarion's spurt with a 17-4 run that gave The Rock its biggest lead of the second half, 52-47, on a Vitez jumper with 10:28 to go.
 
Two points from Heeter and Holmes and one from Fickel, though, got the game tied at 52 before Slippery Rock was able to go ahead by two twice more prior to the final Clarion push.
 
Clarion returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Saturday when it hosts IUP.
 
NOTES – Heeter has double-doubles in back-to-back games scoring 31 points and hauling down 33 rebounds in the two wins … Fickel's five threes were one off her career best of six achieved on four occasions … Holmes' six helpers were two better than her previous best of four, which the freshman achieved twice … A game after failing to hit a three for the first time in 72 games, Clarion nailed 7 of 19 triples vs. Slippery Rock … Clarion outrebounded The Rock 45-41 … The Golden Eagles were 11 of 14 from the free-throw line while Slippery Rock went 1 of 7 … Clarion swept the season series from Slippery Rock for the second time in three years … Clarion's win coupled with a Mercyhurst victory over Lock Haven leaves the Golden Eagles with a four-game lead in the PSAC playoff race with six to play. Clarion is trying to reach the PSAC postseason for the first time since 2009 … The 11 wins are the most for the Golden Eagles since winning 14 in 2009.