MILLERSVILLE, Pa. --- Millersville women's basketball (4-5, 0-3 PSAC) held the lead at halftime against No. 5 Gannon (12-1, 4-0 PSAC) in a low-scoring conference battle that didn't determine a winner until deep into the fourth quarter. 

Both teams held it down defensively, resulting in low field goal percentages from both sides, but the Marauders held their own against one of the more high-octane units in all of Division II. After one quarter of play, the game was deadlocked at 10 after Gannon jumped out to an early 10-4 lead. Just when the game felt as though it could get away from them early, the Marauders dug in. Buckets from Maddie Nimmo and Holly Gohl would tie things up as Gannon went cold from the field to close out the first quarter. 

The second quarter was very similar to the first, with both teams shooting it poorly from the field. The Marauders, who were utilizing a weave concept offensively, shot just 30.8% from the field, but the Golden Knights outdid them, shooting 21.4% from the floor. Carley Berk, who has been the most consistent three-point shooter for the Marauders this season at 37.9%, hit a huge three down the stretch to conclude the first half with the lead. The Marauders' lead at half was 21-20. 

"We played 30-32 minutes hard and then the final eight just seemed to get away from us." Coach Mowen said about the game. Mowen would be right, as the third quarter was equally as deadlocked, so the stalemate continued into the fourth quarter. Third-quarter field goal percentages for Millersville and Gannon were 33.3% and 27.8% respectively, and both teams turned the ball over four times in the quarter. The game was all tied up at 34 going into the fourth quarter of play. 

The fourth quarter, which was missing 10 minutes, was the difference in this one, as Gannon outscored the Marauders 22-11 and outscored itself in the first half (20). Sloppy turnovers and tough shot selections by the Marauders were what made the difference for the Golden Knights as they just escaped Pucillo with a PSAC victory going into the winter break. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: 

• Morgan Mahoney led the Marauders with 12 points and 4 rebounds on the score sheet. She also held it down defensively with four blocks for the black and gold. 
• Not a ton of scoring for the Marauders today, tying their lowest for the season with 45. Right behind Mahoney was Carley Berk with nine points, as the freshman guard has started to carve out a consistent role in the Marauders offense. 
• The Marauders shot 31.3% from the floor and 22.2% from three-point range.
• Defensively, the team had seven blocks and four steals total to hold Gannon to their second-lowest point total this season. 

UP NEXT
After an extended break for the holiday, the Marauders will be back in action against another conference opponent in Pitt-Johnstown on January 2 at 3 p.m.