CLARION – Clarion University’s women’s basketball team used three large runs to overcome a 19-point deficit late in the first half to get an 86-73 win over IUP and clinch its first PSAC Playoff berth since the 1996-97 season.

The Golden Eagles (12-12 overall, 6-5 PSAC-West) were able to lock up at least fourth place in the PSAC-West with the win and Shippensburg’s win over Edinboro Saturday. The top four teams in both the PSAC-West and PSAC-East qualify for the PSAC Playoffs. Clarion is a ½ game behind Slippery Rock for third place in the West. The Golden Eagles have one game remaining, Wednesday at California, while Slippery Rock has two games left. Clarion will play a first-round PSAC Playoff game Feb. 26 at a site and time to be announced.

In the IUP game, the Golden Eagles trailed 43-24 following two free throws by IUP’s Courtnay Rattigan with 4:16 left in the first half. Clarion, though, ended the half on a 14-4 run to close the IUP lead to nine points at 47-38. The Golden Eagles then went on a 13-1 run to start the second half extending the overall run to 27-5 while taking a 51-48 lead with 16:01 left in the game. It was the Golden Eagles first lead since the opening basket of the game put Clarion up 2-0.

IUP (11-13, 3-7) responded to the Clarion run going on a 10-3 run of its own a couple of minutes later to take a seven-point lead at 64-57 with 9:01 left to play.

The Golden Eagles quickly responded outscoring IUP 19-2 over the next 5:11 to take a 76-66 lead on a layup by Jen Duhnke with 3:44 left to play.

The Indians fought back cutting the lead to five-points at 76-71 with 2:21 left, but Clarion went on a 10-2 run to get the 13-point win.

Three keys to the Golden Eagles victory were the three big runs, Clarion’s second-half defense and free-throw shooting.

The three runs by the Golden Eagles used 13:12 of the clock. In that span Clarion outscored IUP 56-9.

The Clarion defense also limited IUP to 17.9 percent shooting (5-for-28) in the second half after allowing the Indians to hit 58.6 percent of their shots (17-of-29) in the first half.

Free-throw shooting was also a big key for Clarion, as it shot 85 percent from the line (34 of 40), while IUP went 63 percent from the line (29 of 46).

Before the game, the Golden Eagles had honored their two seniors, Christina Lantz and Tiffany Taylor, and the seniors made their last game at Tippin Gym a memorable one. Lantz scored 18 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and swatted away three IUP shots, while Taylor had 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Freshman Heather Cigich also had a big game for Clarion gaining her 12^th double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Juniors Jen Duhnke and Tameka Washington each provided sparks off the bench for Clarion with Duhnke scoring 12 points while playing great defense on IUP’s Jacquie Negrelli and Washington adding 11 points.

Negrelli led IUP with 19 points and six assists before fouling out with 4:49 left, while Jacqui Martin added 13 points and nine rebounds, Carrie Hoy 12 points and six rebounds and Sarah Zdesar 10 points.

NOTES: It is the seventh time in head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons 13 years that Clarion has qualified for the PSAC Playoffs ... The Golden Eagles have won the PSAC Title three times (1991, 1993, 1994) under Parsons and finished second once ... Parsons has also guided the Golden Eagles to five NCAA Playoff appearances including the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight" in 1991 and then again in 1994 ... Parsons is the winningest coach in school history with a 196-163 (55 percent). She has a career record of 306-236 (56.5 percent) in now her 21^st season of coaching ... Clarion’s last PSAC Playoff game was a 71-65 loss to West Chester in 1997 ... The Golden Eagles are 8-5 in the PSAC Playoffs since 1980 but 8-3 under Parsons.