March 28, 2025/Midnight

Erie, PA.- The Gannon Golden Knights women’s basketball team concluded its season on Monday after falling to the Grand Valley State Lakers in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Gannon’s stellar campaign ended during the Elite Eight round. Bri Claxon had 15 points, but it wasn’t enough as Grand Valley State took a 60-32 contest.

After the tipoff in Pittsburgh, both teams would start off slowly. The first four points belonged to the Lakers as Gannon didn’t score their first points until halfway through the first period. The Golden Knights only hit three shots as they trailed 11-6 in a low-scoring period.

Rylie Bisballe hit the first three pointer of the second period to extend Grand Valley State’s led to eight. Gannon would continue to hang on throughout the period. After trailing by ten with two minutes until halftime, the Golden Knights finished with a 6-0 run to close the period. Mia Slater contributed the final four points.

Only trailing by four points, the game was within reach for the underdog Gannon. The Lakers would start hot in the second half, opening the period outscoring the Golden Knights 11-3. The team was on fire making half of its third period shots and all four free throws. The Grand Valley State defense would hold Gannon scoreless during the final half of the period and led by 19 entering the fourth.

Throughout the fourth quarter, Gannon would try to make a comeback. Unfortunately, their deficit was insurmountable. Despite Slater, who had ten rebounds, and Claxon’s strong efforts, the Golden Knights would fall to the one-seeded Lakers. Gannon finished with a season-low 32 points, however the team held one of the nation’s top scoring teams to only 60 points.

The Golden Knights finished the season with a record of 28-7 with a 16-4 record in conference play. The team fell in the Elite Eight for the second-straight year.

“I just couldn’t be more proud” says head coach Cleve Wright regarding the team this season. “I told [the players], no matter whatever happens in the game, that I’m proud of where they’re at right now and how much we’ve grown.”