LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The top-seed in the East Lock Haven went toe-to-toe with the top-seed in the West Gannon on Sunday afternoon (March 10) in the 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Women's Basketball Championship, but the Golden Knights pulled away in the third quarter to secure an 80-65 victory to claim the Conference Title inside an electric Thomas Fieldhouse.
For Lock Haven, Sunday marked the first PSAC Championship game appearance since 1991 after downing Western Division No. 3 seed, California (Pa.), 54-51, on Saturday in the semifinal.
The nationally-ranked Bald Eagles move to 28-3 overall through the conference tournament and 15-1 at home, falling for the first time at Thomas Fieldhouse. The Haven, who is ranks fourth in the NCAA DII Atlantic Region, will find out its fate for the NCAA Tournament tonight at 10:30 p.m. on the selection show.
After finishing sixth in the conference in 2022-23, the Bald Eagles secured a silver medal for the first time since 1991.
Both teams came out of the gate hot and traded blows through a 15-15 physical first period.
The Golden Knights stole the second period, 22-15, to build a seven-point lead heading into the break. Gannon benefited from a game-high 10 free throws in the quarter, while slowing down the Bald Eagles' offensive attack (5-of-14).
Gannon mirrored that effort in the third period with another seven-point advantage to extend its lead to 61-47 to start to pull away heading into the fourth.
Lock Haven scored a team-high 18 points in the final period after getting to the foul line eight times, but the Golden Knights continued to keep The Haven at bay and pulled out the victory.
Gannon's Samantha Pirosko scored a game-high 32 points to earn the Conference Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Jenadia Jordan (York, Pa./Linden Hall) led the way for Lock Haven with a team-high 21 points, adding five rebounds. Jordan knocked down two triples and 7-of-8 attempts at the charity stripe.
Alana Robinson (Rockaway, N.J./Pope John Paul II) rounded out a strong tournament with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
Rhlyn Rouse (York, Pa./York Tech) chipped in nine points and six rebounds to lead the second unit.
NEXT UP
The Bald Eagles' 2023-24 PSAC Championship run has finished with a second-place finish. The Haven, who is ranked fourth in the NCAA DII Atlantic Region, will find out its fate for the NCAA Tournament tonight at 10:30 p.m. at the selection show. The show can be viewed live at NCAA.com.
