(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion's Delrika Jones-Carey had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Stevie Ray and Jordan Bekelja added 11 as the Golden Eagles lost a hard-fought PSAC-West opener, 73-59, to Gannon on Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.
 
                Clarion dropped to 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in the West, while Gannon is now 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the West.
 
                The game was close throughout. Gannon led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter, and 36-29 at halftime. Late in the third quarter Clarion pulled to within 3 at 46-43 when Jordan Bekelja hit a jumper with 58-seconds left in the third quarter. A big three by Gannon's McKenna Shives gave the Knights a 49-43 lead entering the fourth quarter.
 
                Clarion trailed by 10 at 7:32 of the fourth when Tyra Polite hit a big three, but the Knights got another three from Shives at 6:29 to lead 61-46. The Eagles cut the lead to 9 on two free throws from Delrika Jones-Carey with only 2:40 remaining (65-56), but Clarion couldn't get any closer and fell 73-59.
 
                Jones-Carey led Clarion with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while Ray added 11 points and 7 rebounds and Bekelja 11 points and 5 assists.
 
                Clarion returns to Tippin Gym to host Cheyney on Saturday at 1pm.