CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion women's basketball team led the #11/25 team in the nation well into the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles were unable to hold on in falling 69-45 to IUP at Tippin Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.  The Golden Eagles (7-18, 2-19 PSAC) will close out their home schedule with Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 17 when they host Edinboro. 
 
Amesha Harden-Pullium scored a game-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range.  She was a key component of the Golden Eagles taking the halftime lead on the Crimson Hawks, making key shots down the stretch in the second quarter to hold the advantage.  Marina Kelly had a team-high seven rebounds while Tynita White added eight points.
 
The Golden Eagles kept close with the Crimson Hawks early in the first quarter, with Taylor Moltz knocking down a three-pointer from the left corner to cut IUP's lead to 6-5, and Yasmin Lewis put the Golden Eagles ahead on the next trip down the floor.  Jordan Bekelja helped Clarion keep the pressure on IUP, finishing off an and-one with 2:16 left in the first quarter to put her team ahead 10-7.  Amesha Harden-Pullium added a three-pointer to make it 13-9, and the senior guard took a feed from Bekelja in the paint to make it 15-11 at the quarter break.
 
Clarion kept coming in the second quarter, with Tynita White draining a trey from the right wing to put the Golden Eagles ahead 18-11.  The next big play came at the 6:25 mark, when Bekelja tracked down an offensive board that was tipped into the backcourt.  She was able to recover and, with eight seconds left on the shot clock, set up Harden-Pullium for a three-pointer to keep it a three-possession game.  The Crimson Hawks chipped away but could not erase the deficit as the Golden Eagles took a 28-26 lead entering halftime.
 
IUP battled back and took the lead early in the third quarter, eventually going on a 12-0 run to take a 39-30 lead.  Harden-Pullium stopped Clarion's drought with two free throws at the 4:32 mark, and Wiehe cut IUP's lead to 42-34 with a pair of makes from the charity stripe as well.  The Crimson Hawks took a 47-36 lead into the fourth quarter after holding the Golden Eagles to just two field goals in the third.  They kept coming in the fourth quarter, building up their lead and eventually setting the final deficit at 69-45.