CLARION, Pa. — In a tough matchup at Tippin Gymnasium, the Clarion Golden Eagles (12-13, 7-12 PSAC) faced off against a formidable Gannon squad (25-3, 17-2 PSAC), falling 85-60 to the sixth-ranked Golden Knights on Wednesday night.
Despite the loss, there was a silver lining to Wednesday night, courtesy of a result in Greensburg. With Seton Hill's win over Pitt-Johnstown, Clarion clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament for the second consecutive year, earning the sixth seed. The Golden Eagles will face the winner of the Seton Hill - Edinboro game on Saturday on Monday, March 3.
Arianna Seitz shone brightly, leading the charge with an impressive career-high 31 points and a flawless 10-for-10 from the charity stripe.
Zoe Guice added two blocks, two steals, and seven rebounds.
Kendall Berger also stepped up, contributing 11 points and three steals, while
Madison Palek made her long-awaited return to the lineup and bolstered the defense with two blocks.
The Golden Eagles started the game on even footing, matching the Golden Knights early on. Key contributions from Guice and Zoé Bayer kept the score tight, with a 6-6 tie at the 7:50 mark. Despite strong defensive plays, including three blocks and two steals, the Eagles couldn't sustain their momentum as Gannon gained ground. A clutch 3-pointer by Seitz at 1:57 brought Clarion back to a 15-15 tie, but the Knights closed the quarter strong, leading 22-17.
Clarion put up a determined fight in the second quarter, with Seitz narrowing the gap with a layup and a free throw at 6:09. Her 3-pointer at 1:09 kept the Eagles close, but they went into halftime trailing 43-36.
The third quarter proved challenging for Clarion, struggling to find their offensive rhythm. Despite earning seven points from free throws, the Eagles' single field goal couldn't compete with Gannon's sharp shooting and fast breaks. The quarter closed with Clarion down 71-45.
In the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles showed resilience, rallying with contributions from multiple players. Seitz once again led the way, scoring a layup at 6:26 during a stretch that saw Clarion outscore Gannon 15-14.
Dominika Logue nailed a 3-pointer at 3:37, underscoring their tenacity. Despite their spirited effort, the Golden Eagles couldn't close the gap, and the game ended 85-60 in favor of the Golden Knights.
