March 21, 2025/Midnight

Erie, PA—The Gannon Golden Knights women’s basketball team are off to the Elite Eight! Gannon defeated Indiana (Pa.) University to continue their run in the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament. For the second straight year, the Golden Knights are Atlantic Region Champions. Bri Claxon and Kate Ratliff combined for 37 points while Mia Slater contributed 14 points off the bench in the 72-59 win.

It would be a back-and-forth first quarter with both teams knotted up at eight just five minutes into the game. Back-to-back three pointers by Maddy Wheatley would give Gannon the early edge. Slater’s layup with 49 seconds left gave the Golden Knights a 21-14 first quarter lead.

Slater would score again by making a three pointer to open the second quarter scoring. Her ninth point of the game would give Gannon a nine-point lead just six minutes until halftime. The Crimson Hawks would hang on with Gannon and trailed 33-25 at halftime.

Less than a minute into the second half, the Golden Knights’ lead diminished to four. Gannon would answer with a pair of shots by Slater and Claxon to restore the big lead. Seven unanswered points in the last three minutes gave the Golden Knights a 14-point lead before Ellie Wilkerson’s buzzer-beater three pointer made it a 48-37 game entering the fourth.

Despite trailing by double digits, Indiana would continue to fight. The Crimson Hawks cut the lead to six with less than three minutes remaining. A pair of trips to the free throw line by Ratliff, who made all four, gave Gannon some comfort. The Golden Knights would hold on for the win.

The Gannon women’s basketball team will now wait to find their next opponent. The team will head to Pittsburgh for an Elite Eight matchup on Monday March 24th. The time is still to be determined.