Erie, Pa. – Sophomore forward
Amy Achesinski scored a game-high 21 points and team-best seven boards to lead four different Lakers in double-figures as Mercyhurst College rolled to an 83-47 win over Glenville St. in the season opener.
The Lakers jumped out to an early 5-1 lead before the visiting Pioneers tied the game at 7 just under five minutes into the game. The Pioneers then took their first lead on the next possession after Christine DiSabato's three-pointer gave Glenville St. a one-point advantage, but that would be the Pioneers only lead of the night as the Lakers rallied for 18 unanswered points. Achesinski and senior guard
Stephanie Prischak combined for 10 markers during the stretch with junior center
Lindsay Whipkey adding another three points en route to a double-digit scoring effort with 12 markers on the night.
Mercyhurst extended its lead to as many as 37 in the first half, taking a 55-18 lead into the locker room at halftime after three more answered runs of six, eight and eight points, respectively. The Lakers shot 60.6 percent from the floor in the first stanza, connecting on 20-of-33 field goals, including 5-of-11 from behind the arc and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.
The Lakers offense cruised in the second half, picking up another 28 points while Glenville St. added 29 points to cut into the Mercyhurst lead. The Lakers finished the game with a 53.3 shooting percentage (32-of-60) in comparison to the Pioneers 33.3 percent (18-of-54).
Prischak contributed 17 total points and five rebounds while
Jackie Artise added 10 markers to finish in double-figures. Freshman
Nikki Frederickson added seven points and three rebounds in her first collegiate action, finishing a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor.
Janeale Ronai added six points while
Mara Dreiser and
Samantha Loadman contributed four points each.
Kelsey Gordon rounded out the Lakers' scorers with two points.
For Glenville St., the Pioneers were led by 14 points from Mallory Menendez. Suzi Harvey contributed 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds while Sarah Harvey finished with nine tallies.
Mercyhurst is in action next on Monday, Nov. 24 at 5:30 p.m. when the Lakers travel to Northern Kentucky, the nation's top-ranked team in Division II by USA Today/ESPN.
