Box Score
Video Highlights & Interviews
Photo Gallery

ERIE, Pa. - The No. 3 Gannon women's basketball team opened the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament with a 62-57 quarterfinal victory over West Division third-seed California (Pa.) on Tuesday evening at the Hammermill Center. In a rematch of last season's quarterfinal matchup, the game featured 11 tied scores and 12 lead changes until the Lady Knights scored five straight from the foul line with 1:07 remaining to seal the win. The second-seed Lady Knights improved to 26-2 overall, while the Vulcans dropped to 18-9.

Following the win, the Lady Knights will face the Eastern Division top-seed Bloomsburg on Saturday, March 8, at the McComb Fieldhouse on the campus of Edinboro University. The game will be the first of the semifinals with the tip set for 1 p.m. Since joining the PSAC in the 2008-09 season, the Lady Knights will make their third PSAC Final Four appearance in program history.

Led by junior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) with 15 points, three Lady Knights recorded double figures in the win. Junior Mollie Sebald (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) registered 13 points followed by senior Jen Papich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) with 11 points. Papich also added a team-high nine rebounds to lead the Lady Knights for the eighth time this season, while tying a career-game five assists.

After shooting 36 percent (9-25) from the field to open the contest, the Lady Knights found their groove in the second half on a pace of 57.9 percent (11-19) to settle in at 45.5 for the game. The Lady Knights helped seal the win with their strong showing at the foul line in the second half at a clip of 87.5 percent (14-16).

Leading scorer Emma Mahady recorded a game-high 22 points along with nine rebounds for a share of the team-high on the glass in 40 minutes of action. Mahady made 19 field goal attempts in the loss. Sharing the lead on the boards was Ashley Hines, who ran into foul trouble throughout the game leading to only two points. Irina Kukolj netted 12 points along with four rebounds.

The Vulcans shot 33.3 percent (19-57) from the field in the game. The Vulcan's 8-for-8 performance from the foul line in the second half kept the team within striking distance of the Lady Knights.

In a slow start between the two squads, three tied scores welcomed the first media timeout. With the Vulcans in the lead at 8-6 with 15:52 left in the opening half, neither team scored in the following 4:02. Following a three by Sebald pulled the Lady Knights within one, the Vulcans scored seven unanswered points for a 17-9 lead with 10:11 remaining.

A 10-1 run gave the Lady Knights a 19-18 lead with 3:43. The Vulcans recaptured the lead down the stretch until sophomore Jennie Thies (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern) knotted the game at 24-24 with layup at the buzzer.  

With the score tied at 24 all, the Vulcans' Kukolj drained a three to open the second half. From there, the Lady Knights took control with a 14-0 run for a 38-27 lead. Junior Brittany Batts (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County) scored eight of the Lady Knights' 14 points.

Following the trey, the Vulcans came up empty in a span of 4:18 to allow the Lady Knights' run, shooting 0-for-6 from the field with a pair of turnovers. Batts started the Lady Knights' run with a three, answering Kukolj's long-range shot just 17 seconds earlier to tie the game at 27-27.

A layup by Blake provided the Lady Knights the lead for the first time since 3:17 left in the first half. Successful visit to the charity stripe by Batts followed with a three provided the Lady Knights with a 34-27 lead. Back-to-back Blake layups extended the lead to 38-27, marking the first double-digit lead for either squad.

The Vulcans stormed back with a 13-4 run to pull within two of the Lady Knights, 42-40, with 11:54 left on the clock. Tallying seven points in the run, Mahady accounted for more than half of the Vulcans' points.

Both teams remained scoreless for the next 2:04 until Blake pushed the Lady Knights ahead at 44-40. A jumper by CeCe Dixon and a layup by Kaitlynn Fratz tied the game at 44-44, marking the seventh tie between the two teams. An and-one off a Blake layup gave the Lady Knights the lead once again, but not before the Vulcans took a 49-47 advantage off five straight points.

Papich's jumper with 7:26 left tied the game up for the eighth time, 49-49. A pair of visits to the foul line by Sebald pushed the Lady Knights' lead to 53-49 before a three by Kukloj pulled the Vulcans within one with 4:34 remaining. Miki Glenn handed the Vulcans the lead once again, hitting back-to-back free throws, 54-53.

Taking advantage of a stop at the foul line, Papich tied the game for the 10th time and handed the Lady Knights the lead on her second shot, 55-54. An and-one layup by Mahady broke the Lady Knights' lead and handed the Vulcans a 57-55 lead, the last time the visitors would lead in the game.

On the next possession, Blake received an inside feed from Papich, which setup the game-tying basket at 57-57 with 1:07 remaining. The Lady Knights sealed the win with strong shooting at the foul line, hitting five of their final six for the 62-57 win. In total, 10 of the Lady Knights' final 12 points came at the charity stripe. Senior Kelley Sundberg (Mansfield, Conn./E.O. Smith) hit four straight to close out the Lady Knights' victory.

The Vulcans out-rebounded the Lady Knights in the loss, holding a 38-31 advantage on the glass. On the offensive boards, the Vulcans held a 16-6 edge. The two squads each recorded 18 total turnovers after each posted 10 in the opening half.

Gannon will face Eastern Division top-seed Bloomsburg on Saturday, March 8, at the McComb Fieldhouse on the campus of Edinboro University. The game will be the first of the semifinals with the tip set for 1 p.m. The other semifinal game will feature the host Fighting Scots against West Chester at 3:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, at 1 p.m. and can be seen live on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN).

GAME NOTES: The Lady Knights remain undefeated against the Vulcans in the PSAC Tournament, posting a 3-0 record with all three victories at the Hammermill Center… The victory improved the Lady Knights' all-time record in the PSAC Tournament to 6-3, including a 5-2 mark at the Hammermill Center... The Lady Knights have won 28 of their last 29 meetings at home… With an 18-14 all-time record against the Vulcans, the Lady Knights have captured five straight… Blake has recorded double figures in 13 consecutive games.