MILLERSVILLE, Pa. — Clarion improved to 6–0 and secured their first PSAC victory with a gritty 79–71 road win over Millersville at Pucillo Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles relied on interior scoring and a dominant fourth-quarter surge, ultimately pulling away late when Zoé Bayer hit a pivotal three-pointer with just 49 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Clarion opened the game with an assertive presence, frequently exchanging leads with the Marauders during the first quarter. Bayer was instrumental, converting a fast-break layup and adding a free throw at 4:41 to tie the score at 11–11. Following a series of defensive plays, Clarion managed to secure a narrow lead with
Arianna Seitz's layup at 0:47, tying the score once more at 21–21.
In a tense final minute, Bayer's free throw at 0:26 pushed Clarion ahead. The quarter concluded with Clarion leading 22–21, setting the stage for a competitive matchup.
Clarion gained momentum midway through the second quarter with a critical free throw by
Dominika Logue at 5:42, putting them ahead 28-27. Seitz extended Clarion's lead with a 3-pointer at 3:40, assisted by
Niah Smedley, tying the game at 33-33.
Zoe Guice added two successful free throws with 2:07 left, boosting the score to 35-33. However, the Marauders' Carley Berk hit a 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining, and a last-second layup by Rhyan Mitchell gave Millersville a narrow 41-40 lead at the end of the quarter.
Clarion seized momentum in the third quarter with a combination of strong defensive plays and timely scoring. Guice initiated the surge with a layup at 8:49, giving Clarion a 42-41 edge. Clarion continued to apply pressure, exemplified by Seitz's fastbreak layup at 4:48, assisted by Bayer, extending the lead to 51-47. Despite Millersville's efforts to close the gap, Clarion maintained control, finishing the quarter with a 19-14 advantage, leading 59-55 as the game progressed into the final quarter.
Clarion seized momentum in the fourth quarter with a crucial 3-pointer by Bayer at 7:46, assisted by Seitz, pushing their lead to 62-58. A subsequent layup by
Alyssa Terza at 3:43, followed by a successful free throw, extended the lead to 69-66 after Millersville had briefly tied the game. Clarion maintained control with Bayer hitting another 3-pointer at 0:49, solidifying their advantage.
Despite Millersville's attempts to close the gap, Clarion's defense held firm, with key rebounds by
Aundraya Neavins and Terza. Clarion's free throw success in the final seconds, including two from Guice, secured their victory. The game concluded with Clarion winning 79-71, outscoring Millersville 20-16 in the final quarter.
Seitz led the team with 16 points, followed closely by Guice and Bayer, who each contributed 14 points. The team's interior presence was dominated by Terza, who pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, while Bayer filled the stat sheet with a team-leading 4 assists and 4 steals.
