The Gannon University women’s basketball team saw its losing streak reach four games last week with a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference defeats at the hands of California University of Pennsylvania and Edinboro.
The Knights fell 79-45 to No. 21 Cal U on Feb. 13 on the road before dropping a 79-66 decision to Edinboro Saturday on Alumni Appreciation Day at the Hammermill Center.
Gannon dropped to 11-15 overall and 7-11 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference going into Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. matchup with rival Mercyhurst at the Hammermill Center.
The game is crucial to the Knights’ postseason hopes, as Gannon currently sits in seventh place, one spot out of the conference tournament.
In the loss to Cal U, the Vulcans full-court pressed the Knights right out of the gate and built a 16-0 lead before Gannon got on the board with Nicole LaCava’s first 3-pointer of the season.
LaCava heated up in the third quarter, scoring eight points to help the Knights score 16 points, but Cal U had built a 47-16 halftime lead, so the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Gannon shot just 27 percent from the floor in the opening half while the Vulcans shot twice as well at 56 percent.
LaCava finished with 11 points and now has scored 10 or more points in 20 games this season. Sydney Mitchell added nine points and Tori Obenrader had eight points and 11 rebounds.
The Knights got off to a good start in the loss to Edinboro, outscoring the Fighting Scots 23-15 in the first quarter. But Edinboro fought back in the second quarter, holding the Knights to just eight points while scoring 18 to go into halftime with a 33-31 lead.
The Fighting Scots used an 11-1 run to widen a four-point lead to 52-38 with 3 minutes, 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Gannon pulled to within four at 52-48 with 34 seconds left in the quarter, but Edinboro closed the quarter with a three and built the lead back to 12 midway through the final quarter.
Gannon never got closer than seven the rest of the way.
Obenrader, who earned PSAC West freshman of the week honors for the fifth time this season, had an outstanding game, scoring 20 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
Chelsea Rourke added 13 points, Mitchell had 11 and LaCava finished with 10.
Saturday’s game with Mercyhurst is senior night and is designated as the Porreco Pride of Erie game.
Mercyhurst claimed a 72-66 victory in the first meeting between the two teams.
James hanchett
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