CLARION, Pa. — The Golden Eagles (10-6, 5-5 PSAC) turned in a dominant fourth quarter effort against Pitt-Johnstown (6-11, 3-7 PSAC) on Saturday, riding a hot finish to an impressive 86-72 win at Tippin Gym.
Clarion sealed the deal with a dominant 28–12 run in the final quarter, turning what had been a 60-58 deficit into a double-digit victory. The Golden Eagles did most of their damage in the paint in that quarter, outscoring the Mountain Cats 12-2 in the period.
Zoe Guice was unstoppable, dropping 27 points and dishing out eight assists, along with snagging two steals.
Arianna Seitz was strong with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Alyssa Terza chipped in 13 points and matched Seitz's 10 rebounds, sinking three shots from beyond the arc. Meanwhile,
Niah Smedley was a defensive force, adding two blocks and two steals to her nine points and seven rebounds.
The game kicked off with Clarion setting the pace, thanks to Guice's ability to drive the lane and finish. With just under two minutes left, Guice nailed a 3-pointer to tie things up, setting the stage for an electrifying close to the quarter. Seitz and Guice stepped up in the clutch, pushing the Golden Eagles ahead 18-14 as the first quarter wrapped up.
In the second quarter, Clarion took flight, with Seitz hitting a 3-pointer at 8:59 on a sweet assist from Guice. A pivotal run saw Guice driving to the hoop for a crucial layup at 3:12, widening the lead. Despite UPJ's efforts, including a late layup by Riley Childress, Clarion held firm. The quarter ended with the Golden Eagles on top, 40-34, as Guice scooped an offensive rebound and nailed a buzzer-beater jumper.
Clarion kept the momentum going into the third, with Terza burying a fast break 3-pointer at 8:23, courtesy of Guice's assist, stretching the score to 45-36. As the quarter advanced, Seitz's layup at 2:26, assisted by
Lia Krarup, helped extend the lead to six. UPJ fought back, tying it at 58 with just 40 seconds left. M'laya Ainsworth sank two clutch free throws to edge UPJ ahead, leaving Clarion just short despite a well-rounded effort.
The Golden Eagles came out firing in the fourth, with Seitz hitting a jumper off a
Kendall Berger assist at 9:36, knotting the game at 60. Clarion took charge with Terza's 3-pointer at 8:22, assisted by Guice, pushing the lead to 63–60.
UPJ tried to rally, but Berger answered with a crucial 3-pointer at 6:06, giving Clarion a 71–66 lead. The Golden Eagles' defense clamped down, holding the Mountain Cats to just two field goals while capitalizing on turnovers and executing with precision.
