The Gannon University women’s basketball team’s season concluded March 1 in a 75-70 loss to Indiana (Pa.) in the quarterfinals of the PSAC tournament.
The Knights closed a nine-point halftime gap to one by the end of the third quarter, but were ultimately staved off by the Crimson Hawks.
The loss left Gannon with an overall record of 17-11. The Knights finished with a 14-8 conference record, good for a third-place regular-season finish in the PSAC West.
In the season-finale, Gannon was led by junior Brianna Brennan, who stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and four blocks.
The Knights played their second game without senior double-double machine Jennie Thies, who suffered an injury on Senior Night a week earlier against crosstown rival Mercyhurst.
Senior Morgan Neighbors had a strong showing in her last collegiate game, posting 17 points, including 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, in the loss to IUP.
Neighbors also became the 28th Gannon women’s basketball player to pass the 1,000 career point mark.
Gannon advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Seton Hill, 64-58, on Feb. 27 at the Hammermill Center.
Brennan led the way again, recording 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Neighbors added 10 points and three rebounds.
The Knights held the Griffins to 35 percent shooting for the game and won the rebounding battle 40-33 to help spur the win.
Gannon seniors were honored Feb. 24 on Senior Night in a loss against Mercyhurst, 62-54.
Neighbors led the scoring for the Knights with 14 points and four rebounds. Brennan added 12 points and sophomore McKenna Shives contributed 11 points of her own.
Mercyhurst used a 40-32 second-half advantage to top Gannon, after heading into the halftime break tied at 22.
Seniors Amanda Berchtold, Thies, Neighbors, Marisa Guyton and LaShawna Gatewood were all honored after the game for their service as outstanding student-athletes in the Gannon athletics department.
All five seniors consistently exhibited exemplary behavior on and off the court, and it was reflected in their teammates’ opinions of them.
Freshman Lauren Tewes spoke highly of the group.
“They’re the reason I got through preseason conditioning and pushed myself so hard,” she said. “To have that type of talent in our seniors made me believe I can be someday what they were to us this year.”
Shives said that this class made Gannon feel like home right away when she was a freshman last year.
“I always had someone to hang out with or show me where my classes were,” Shives said, “and that went a long way in making me feel comfortable, on and off the court.”
MAX SENG
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