CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle women's basketball team showcased a good defensive effort on Saturday, but was unable to match their opponent on the glass in falling by a 70-51 score to West Chester in Tippin Gymnasium.
 
Neither team shot the ball particularly well on Saturday, with the Golden Eagles going 35.8 percent from the field and the Golden Rams just 35.7 percent. The difference came on the Clarion defensive glass, as West Chester pulled down 23 offensive rebounds and finished with 15 second chance points. Conversely, the Golden Eagles recorded just 23 defensive rebounds on the day.
 
Jada Smith and Allyson Kirby tied for the team-high with five boards apiece, while Smith finished with a team-high 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. The senior forward filled the stat sheet with five steals and two assists to go with the rest of her afternoon. Sierra Bermudez scored 10 points and also had two rebounds. Ava Haddad had nine points and four blocked shots.
 
West Chester built up their margin of victory in the first half, outscoring the Golden Eagles 38-16 in the first 20 minutes. Clarion responded by cutting into that lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Golden Rams 16-11. After West Chester scored the first two points of the period, Clarion responded with a 12-0 run to put the Golden Rams on the back foot. Jada Smith stole the ball from Leah Johnson and took it coast-to-coast for a layup that made it 30-20, and then stole a pass on the ensuing possession to set up a midrange jumper from Olivia Boocks.
 
Smith added another big play in the run, pulling down a defensive rebound and scoring on the other end to make it 40-24 at the 7:25 mark. She added one more big turnover in the rally, this time taking the ball from Michelle Kozicki as Bermudez made a three-pointer at the 6:56 mark. Clarion got as close as 12 points in the quarter before the Golden Rams halted the rally, and the latter took a 49-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Haddad got Clarion as close as 59-43 in the fourth quarter, sinking one of two free throws at the 4:27 mark, but the Golden Eagles could not make up any more ground as the Golden Rams expanded the lead.
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