CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagles women's basketball team returned to action with the start of PSAC West play on Friday night, but their comeback effort against Edinboro came up just a bit short as Clarion lost 70-61 to the Fighting Scots in Tippin Gym.
 
 Edinboro got the better of the Golden Eagles in the first and third quarters, while Clarion turned the tables on them in the second and fourth periods. It was the latter that very nearly led to the Golden Eagles erasing the Fighting Scots' advantage, with Clarion outscoring Edinboro 26-13 in the fourth quarter. That turned what had been a 20-point deficit into a three-possession game with a minute to play, after Zoe Guice finished off an and-one to make it 67-59.
 
The old-fashioned three-point play was followed by a quick stop on the defensive end, with Arianna Seitz blocking a shot by Ashten Boggs. A Clarion turnover halted the momentum though, and Hayley Sims put Edinboro back up by double-digits with two free throw makes.
 
All told, the Golden Eagles shot 57.9 percent from the field in the fourth quarter comeback attempt, compared to just 27.3 percent for the Fighting Scots in that frame. It was not enough to make up the offensive struggles Clarion endured for most of the game, though, as the Golden Eagles shot just 13-of-45 in the first three quarters.
 
Seitz was the most consistent offensive starter for the Golden Eagles, going 6-of-13 from the field for 12 points to go along with her seven rebounds, a block and a steal. Guice added 14 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Malayziah Etheredge helped fuel the comeback effort with 11 points, five rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes off the bench.
 
The Fighting Scots stymied the Golden Eagles in the first quarter, outscoring them 20-9 over the opening 10 minutes, but before the halftime break Clarion found a way to stem the tide. Guice scored the first bucket of the second to cut it to 20-11, and Etheredge made a jumper with a minute to go in the first half to make it a 32-23 game. Autumn Taylor scored with no time remaining on the clock before the halftime break, cutting Edinboro's lead to 34-25.
 
Edinboro regained control in the third quarter, increasing their lead to 22 points. That lead began to leak away in the fourth quarter, starting with a bucket by Seitz and a long scoreless stretch for both teams. Etheredge made a three-pointer with 5:25 left to play to make it 59-44, and then converted an and-one on the very next possession to make it a 12-point game. Etheredge had another three-pointer in her arsenal, draining a long ball at the 2:57 mark to make it 63-52, and Seitz scored on the next trip down the floor to keep it an 11-point game. Read Full Article