CLARION, Pa. – Clarion used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to remain unbeaten at 4–0 for the first time since 2018, pulling away from Lake Erie for an 88–71 victory on Saturday afternoon in Tippin Gymnasium.
Coach
Danielle Fleming highlighted the standout play of
Arianna Seitz, saying, "I think that Seitz played a really good, well-put-together game. It's not that she's been struggling, but she's wanted to play better."
The Golden Eagles carried early momentum once again, racing out to an 8–0 lead behind inside scores from Seitz and
Alyssa Terza. Clarion continued to attack the rim, pushing the advantage to 12–2 midway through the first quarter. Lake Erie responded with a run to cut the lead to 13–12, but Clarion answered with paint finishes from
Zoe Guice and
Niah Smedley. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, and Clarion closed the opening quarter with a 22–15 lead.
Clarion's defensive pressure ramped up early in the second quarter, forcing turnovers that Seitz and Guice converted into transition points. Lake Erie countered with a press that caused the Golden Eagles to speed up offensively. Still, Clarion found timely answers from long range as
Dominika Logue and
Aundraya Neavins buried threes. The Storm closed the half strong, however, taking a 41–40 advantage into the break.
Coming out of halftime, Clarion found new energy and efficiency by shifting from outside shooting to attacking the basket. Seitz and Guice repeatedly got to the free-throw line, converting to help reclaim the lead. The Golden Eagles' pressure defense produced fast-break opportunities, with Guice and Zoé Bayer finishing in transition. Bayer continued her attack, scoring back-to-back buckets in the paint as Clarion stretched its lead to 65–56 heading into the fourth.
The Golden Eagles carried that momentum into the final period, with
Kendall Berger scoring six of the team's first eight points to start the quarter. Clarion's defense continued to overwhelm Lake Erie, forcing turnovers that led to a flurry of fast-break points. Neavins and Bayer led the late push, scoring multiple times as Clarion closed the game with authority.
Guice led all scorers with 17 points, followed closely by Seitz with 16 points and four assists. Bayer and Neavins added 13 points apiece, with Bayer shooting an efficient 66% from the field. Clarion capitalized on Lake Erie's 33 turnovers, converting them into 46 fast-break points.
The Golden Eagles return home on December 2 to host Penn State DuBois at 11 a.m.
