CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion women's basketball team went back and forth in a wild home contest on Sunday, but West Chester ultimately got the better of the Golden Eagles in a 78-74 decision at Tippin Gymnasium.  Clarion (1-5, 0-2 PSAC) will play one more game before the Thanksgiving break, hosting Malone on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
 
There were 10 total lead changes as both teams played an evenly-matched game, with Clarion leading 58-54 entering the final quarter of action.  The Golden Eagles led by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter, starting with a jumper by Yndiah Bobo and a putback make by Emily Hegedus.  The Golden Rams cut it to a two-point deficit with just under eight minutes to go, and Gabrielle Troisi tied the game at 7:05 with a transition make.  West Chester took the lead for good with 6:10 remaining, though Clarion cut the lead to 70-67 on a midrange jumper by Yasmin Lewis. 
 
Lewis posted her first double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards.  Ke'Airah Massiah led Clarion in scoring with a 16-point effort, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.  Celeste Ryman came off the bench for 15 points, all of them coming on three-pointer makes, and Hegedus recorded 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.
 
The Golden Eagles opened the game on a 10-4 run, with Massiah scoring the final two buckets in that sequence.  Bobo bumped the lead to three possessions with a free throw at the 4:42 mark, making it 13-6, but West Chester rallied to pull within 17-16 with under two minutes to play in the quarter.  Clarion responded by scoring six straight points, including a fastbreak jumper by Massiah, and led 23-18 at the end of the first.  The Golden Rams got the better of the second quarter by outscoring Clarion 21-14 and taking a two-point lead into the locker room.
 
The Golden Eagles did jump back into the lead late in the third quarter, with Jada Smith sinking a jumper in the paint to make it 50-49.  Clarion embarked on a 7-0 run to build a two-possession advantage, with Ryman sinking a three off a steal by Hegedus to make it 58-52.