CLARION, Pa. – Clarion battled through a physical, defensive showdown Saturday evening, edging Bluefield State 66–63 inside Tippin Gymnasium to secure its second straight win to open the season.
Head coach
Danielle Fleming said she was proud of the way her team continues to set the tone early in games.
"I really love how we are starting games out," Fleming said. "I think at one point it might have been sixteen to two. We're right where we want to be in terms of starting fast. I tell the team all the time — basketball is a game of runs. That's a good team, and they're going to punch you back. They're not just going to lay down and die."
The Golden Eagles opened strong once again, with
Arianna Seitz and
Kendall Berger knocking down early three-pointers to spark the offense. As Clarion settled into a rhythm, the defense — powered by
Zoe Guice's ball pressure and
Madison Palek's presence inside — forced Bluefield State into tough shots. The quarter's most significant moment came when
Alyssa Terza and Berger delivered back-to-back blocks on a Big Blue fast-break, helping hold them to just two points for most of the frame. Clarion carried a 16–9 lead into the second.
Momentum shifted in the second quarter as Bluefield State began dictating the pace. Clarion opened with buckets from Guice and Palek, but the Big Blue surged back as the Golden Eagles struggled to find consistency in the half-court. Guice noted that Bluefield State's physicality and defensive pressure caused issues on the perimeter.
"It definitely affected us more on the three side," Guice said. "They played us really physical. We got those looks, but we just couldn't hit today. We like to get a bunch of threes up, and when we're not hitting, it helped us to just finish at the rim more."
Despite a three from
Aundraya Neavins and an inside finish from Seitz, Clarion saw its lead trimmed to 27–26 at halftime.
The third quarter became a back-and-forth battle. Guice scored inside and Berger knocked down a corner three, but Bluefield State matched each run and eventually took the lead after the media timeout. Clarion briefly regained control behind drives from Berger and Guice, but the Big Blue responded with a late surge, extending their advantage to seven. Guice kept the Golden Eagles within striking distance with consecutive scores, but Clarion still trailed 48–43 entering the fourth.
Bluefield State came out firing to start the final period, hitting three of their first five three-pointers to push the lead to eight. Clarion fought back with transition baskets from
Niah Smedley to break the press, and Guice tied the game at 57 with a pair of free throws. In the closing minutes, Terza continued her strong effort off the bench, tying the game at 59 with two minutes to play before knocking down 1-of-2 free throws with 23 seconds left to give Clarion a 64–63 lead.
After a defensive stop, Seitz secured a crucial rebound with nine seconds remaining and called a timeout to advance the ball. Guice was fouled on the inbound and calmly sank both free throws, sealing the 66–63 win as the defense delivered one final stand.
Fleming praised her team's composure in the decisive moments.
"We practice a ton of late-game situations — up two, down five, all of it," Fleming said. "I love that our girls are ready."
She also credited her young roster for playing with maturity beyond their years. "They played not like freshmen and sophomores," Fleming said. "They played like they've been doing this their whole lives."
Guice led all scorers with 20 points and added three assists, while Seitz contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. Berger finished with 11 points, and Terza delivered a huge spark off the bench with six points and 12 rebounds. Clarion's half-court offense struggled at times, but the Eagles thrived in transition, scoring 30 fast-break points and forcing 28 turnovers.
Clarion returns to Tippin Gymnasium on Thursday for a 5 p.m. matchup against Ohio Dominican.
