Box Score CLARION, Pa. – Behind 29 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals from freshman Kelly Johnson, the Clarion University women's basketball team defeated visiting Slippery Rock 89-73 in PSAC West action Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.
 
Johnson's 29 points were the fifth-most by a freshman in school history, the second highest of her career, and with the season-high 12 rebounds she recorded her second double-double of the season. Emma Fickel added 18 points, a season-high seven rebounds, an assist and a steal, and Hannah Heeter had her fifth straight double-double, her ninth of the season and the 38^th of her career with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Heeter also had two blocked shots, three steals and three assists, while Tania Holmes also reached double digits with 12 points while adding three steals, three rebounds and two assists.
 
Clarion (8-11, 2-7 PSAC West) rode its highest scoring first half in four years to a 49-32 halftime lead and then held off a Slippery Rock comeback attempt in the second half that saw The Rock get within 11, 70-59, with seven minutes to play.
 
A 10-2 run paced by six points and an assists by Johnson right after Slippery Rock (4-15, 1-8) had closed within 11 put a halt to the comeback attempt, although The Rock never completely went away and actually was within 10, 80-70, with just over a minute left.
 
Clarion led by as many as 23, 46-23, in the first half thanks to a 25-4 run that started at the 11:50 mark of the half and continued until just under the 3-minute mark. Johnson was the driving forced of the run with 11 points and an assists with Jasmine Boyd adding six of her eight points, she also had five rebounds, during the spurt.
 
Jazmyne Frost led Slippery Rock with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Megan Hardiman had 17 points and 11 rebounds. D'Asia Chambers had a team-high 19 points to go with six boards and three helpers, while Aidan Geise chipped in with 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
 
The Golden Eagles shot 54.8 percent in the opening 20 minutes while holding Slippery Rock to 37.9 percent and scored its most points in a half since the 2009-2010 season when it had 49 vs. Edinboro and 52 vs. California (Pa.).
 
Clarion's shooting cooled down some in the second 20 minutes (46.2 percent) but the Golden Eagles still limited Slippery Rock to under 40 percent (39.5 percent) in the half.
 
It was the final game before a 3-game road trip for Clarion that starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at IUP.
 
NOTES – Johnson's season high was 30 points Dec. 4 vs. Pitt-Johnstown. Her previous high in rebounds was Nov. 16 vs. West Liberty in a game she recorded her other double-double. Johnson went 10 of 15 from the free-throw line, the most made free throws by a Golden Eagle this season … Clarion turned the ball over a season-low seven times including just one first-half turnover … Heeter's 38 double-doubles are the fourth most in school history and her nine as a junior tie Sara Pratt (2009) for the fifth most double-doubles by a junior in school history … Fickel's previous season high for rebounds was five accomplished twice last vs. Gannon Jan. 11. Her career high is eight done three times last vs. Seton Hill Dec. 29, 2011.