INDIANA, Pa. — The Clarion Golden Eagles (12-12, 7-11 PSAC) put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell to the fifth-ranked IUP Crimson Hawks (23-1, 16-1 PSAC), 81-65, at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex on Saturday. Despite a spirited 28-point surge in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles couldn't quite overcome the Crimson Hawks' advantage.

Alyssa Terza was strong for Clarion, leading the charge with 12 points and nailing 4 of 6 from downtown. Claire Noble matched her tally with 12 points, sinking four 3-pointers on ten attempts. Dominika Logue chipped in 11 points, adding three more triples to Clarion's impressive perimeter play. Zoe Guice had a solid all-around performance, pulling down seven boards and dishing out four assists.

From the tip-off, Clarion came out determined, with Zoé Bayer knocking down two free throws at 7:34 and following up with a jumper to bring it to 6-4. However, turnovers haunted the Golden Eagles, with five in the opening quarter, allowing the Crimson Hawks to stretch their lead. Arianna Seitz made her presence felt with a fastbreak layup, and Noble ended the quarter with a deep three, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 25-14 deficit.

In the second quarter, Clarion found a spark when Logue drained a three at 8:01 off a Bayer assist, briefly narrowing the gap. Yet, the turnover bug bit again, with eight giveaways in the quarter, which the Crimson Hawks exploited for 13 points. By halftime, Clarion faced a 46-25 uphill battle.

The third quarter saw Guice quickly score a layup as the Golden Eagles sought to claw back. Noble's three-pointer, set up by Aundraya Neavins at 5:36, offered a glimmer of hope, but the Crimson Hawks' relentless attack in the paint and on second-chance points kept them in control. The quarter ended with Clarion down 66-37.

In the final quarter, the Golden Eagles lit it up from beyond the arc. Averi Brozeski drilled two early threes, assisted by Seitz, setting the tone. Terza was unstoppable, hitting back-to-back triples, and Noble added another fastbreak three, keeping the pressure on the Crimson Hawks. Clarion outscored IUP 28-15 in the quarter, showcasing their perimeter prowess, but the Crimson Hawks held on for the 81-65 victory.