Michels drops career-high 28 in 80-69 loss at Grand View

DES MOINES, Iowa - In a rematch about a month apart, the Clarke University women's basketball team suffered their second defeat in Heart of America Athletic Conference play as they fell to Grand View University 80-69 Wednesday night.

The Pride were victims of a tough second half after leading by three points at halftime as the Vikings went on to outscore CU 22-13 in the third quarter and pull away early in the fourth to finish comforably with their 11-point lead.

In the fourth, Clarke went the first 5:04 of the period without scoring as Grand View was able to jump out on a 10-0 run to start that stretch up 58-52 to lead 68-52 before a pair of Nicole McDermott free throws got CU on the board in the fourth.

Junior guard Giana Michels was able to keep the Pride close in the late stages of the third quarter and attempt a comeback towards the end of the fourth as she finished with a career-high 28 points. Of her 28 points, 19 came in the second half and 12 came in the fourth quarter as she went 10-of-17 from the field and 5-of-8 from three points range.

The Vikings had four players in double figures led by the 17-point performance from Shannon Pisney as she went 3-of-8 from the field but a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. McKenna Monahan (12), Ella Larsen (12), and Isabel Gscheidle (10) all finished in double figures in support of Pisney's 17.

Pisney's 10-of-10 at the line almost out attempted Clarke at the free throw line as the Pride finished 8-of-11 as a team from the line whereas Grand View ended the game shoowing 87.5 percent from the charity stripe on 21-of-24 free throws.

Clarke will return home for a Saturday home game against Park University for a 12:00 p.m. tip against the Pirates. Saturday's game will serve as Senior Day for the Pride as their seniors will be recognized between the end of the women's game and prior to the start of the men's game that is scheduled to follow.