The Gannon University women's basketball team kicked off their 2024-25 campaign with a hard-fought victory over Dominican University (Calif.) in the D2CCA Canadian Tip-Off Classic. Despite building a sizable lead in the second half, the Golden Knights had to hold off a late surge from their opponents to secure a 72-67 win.

Gannon Overcomes Slow Start to Dominate Middle Quarters

The Golden Knights found themselves trailing 13-11 after the opening period, but they quickly turned things around in the second quarter. Gannon outscored Dominican 25-17 in the second frame to take a 36-30 lead into halftime. Maddy Wheatley and Kate Ratliff combined to score the first 11 points of the third quarter, helping the team extend their advantage to 47-32.Carissa Dunham then took over, converting a layup, a 3-pointer, and two free throws to push the lead to 54-33. Back-to-back layups from Andrea Maibach gave Gannon a commanding 58-33 advantage heading into the final period.

Dominican Mounts Furious Comeback, but Gannon Holds On

The Golden Knights appeared to be cruising to a comfortable victory, leading 62-37 at the start of the fourth quarter. However, Dominican showed tremendous grit and determination, mounting a furious comeback that put the game in jeopardy.The visitors scored the next 14 points in just over three minutes, cutting the deficit to 67-61 with 1:48 remaining. Gannon clung to a 69-67 lead with 23 seconds left, but Tori Mayes stepped up and sank two clutch free throws to give the team a four-point cushion. A late turnover by Dominican and a free throw from Bri Claxon sealed the victory for the Golden Knights.

Balanced Scoring Effort Leads Gannon to Season-Opening Win

Maddy Wheatley led a well-rounded Gannon offense, scoring a team-high 14 points. Kate Ratliff and Carissa Dunham each added 13 points, while Andrea Maibach chipped in with 12 and Bri Claxon contributed 10. The Golden Knights shot 43.1% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc, showcasing their offensive versatility.Wheatley also paced the team on the glass, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Maibach pulled down seven boards, and Tori Mayes recorded six rebounds. Claxon dished out a team-high four assists, and Ratliff swiped three steals.

Gannon Looks to Build on Season-Opening Victory

The Golden Knights will look to build on their season-opening victory when they take on Seattle Pacific on Saturday afternoon. Gannon will be aiming to maintain their momentum and secure a second consecutive win in the D2CCA Canadian Tip-Off Classic.