CLARION, Pa. — The Golden Eagles (8-4, 3-3 PSAC) soared over Shippensburg (1-11, 0-5 PSAC), clinching a 71-61 victory at Tippin Gymnasium in a tightly contested game. The margin was just two possessions with under 40 seconds to play but the Golden Eagles added on down the stretch for the win.
Clarion capitalized on 24 turnovers by the Raiders, converting them into 20 crucial points. In total the Golden Eagles outscored Shippensburg on the fast break, topping their opponent 28-8 in transition.
Zoe Guice shone brightly, pouring in 19 points while sinking all eight of her free throws and dishing out four assists.
Alyssa Terza was a force with 18 points, nailing five of her 10 shots from beyond the arc and hauling in 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Madison Palek contributed to the defense with three blocks and five boards, while
Kendall Berger added five assists and three rebounds.
After an initial 4-0 deficit, Clarion quickly hit back with a swift fast-break layup from
Arianna Seitz at 7:45, leveling the score. A 3-pointer by Terza at 5:54 pushed Clarion into a 7-6 lead, building momentum. The Golden Eagles widened their advantage with speedy transitions, highlighted by Guice's layup at 1:41. Berger further extended the lead with a clutch 3-pointer with just 41 seconds on the clock, wrapping up the first quarter at 15-8 in favor of Clarion.
The second quarter saw Clarion's defensive pressure ramp up, exploiting Raider miscues to stretch their lead. Guice's fast-break layup at 8:07 set the tone, helping Clarion outpace Shippensburg 13-11 in the quarter. Despite some shooting woes, the Golden Eagles dominated the boards, denying Shippensburg second chances and preserving a 28-19 halftime lead.
The third quarter was more of the same, with Clarion controlling the pace. Zoé Bayer's pivotal fast-break layup at 6:34 pushed Clarion's lead to 32-23. Capitalizing on turnovers, Guice powered through with a layup at 3:56. Although Abbie Johns' 3-pointer at 3:38 tried to spark a Shippensburg rally, Clarion's steady hand at the free-throw line kept them in command. The quarter closed with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Guice, keeping the Golden Eagles ahead at 46-35.
In the final stretch, Clarion's offense remained relentless. Terza's timely three-pointer at 9:13, facilitated by Seitz, set the tone. Bayer added her flair with a three-pointer at 7:12 and a layup at 5:43, fortifying Clarion's lead. Despite a late-game push from the Raiders, including another three-pointer by Johns, the Golden Eagles' consistent scoring and Guice's clutch free throws in the final minute sealed the deal.
