Syracuse, N.Y. – Sophomore Amy Achesinski made a put-back layin with four seconds remaining to give the Mercyhurst women's basketball team a 54-53 win over Le Moyne Monday at Ted Grant Court. Achesinski and senior Stephanie Prischak powered the Lakers' late 9-4 surge that culminated in Achesinski's game-winning bucket.

Mercyhurst improves to 4-3 on the season, and has won its last three contests. Le Moyne is now 5-5.

With her team trailing 49-45 with less than four minutes remaining, Prishcak hit a long three-pointer to trim the margin to one point. Le Moyne scored on its next possession to regain a three-point edge at 51-48. Nearly two minutes later, with 1:29 left, Prischak responded with another triple to knot the game at 51 apiece.

After a Le Moyne turnover, Mercyhurst ran their offense inside one minute. Abby Allen pulled down an offensive rebound and set the offense back up. Achesinski was then fouled with 29 seconds left in the ballgame, and hit one of two charity tosses to give the Lakers a 52-51 lead. On the next possession, Vanessa Holden got fouled and hit both free throws, giving the Dolphins a 53-52 lead with 19 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, the Lakers worked the ball on the left side, passing around the perimeter before finding Achesinski on the left block. She took a shot that was blocked, got her own rebound and scored the go-ahead basket with four seconds remaining. A last-second desperation attempt proved fruitless for Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst came away with the dramatic 54-53 victory.

The Dolphins led 23-22 at halftime. However, Mercyhurst controlled play during the first six minutes of the second half. Achesinski asserted herself in the key, scoring ten consecutive Laker markers while Mercyhurst built a 37-32 lead. The Dolphins responded, taking a 38-37 lead with 11:10 remaining. The lead changed hands a few times after that, and the Lakers held a precarious two-point lead at 45-43 with eight minutes left after Jackie Artise hit a three.

The Dolphins reeled off six straight points, building their largest lead a 49-45 with 5:12 remaining before the Lakers went on their closing flourish to steal the victory.

After the Dolphins scored the first point of the game on a free throw, the Lakers went on a 9-0 run, as a layup by Mara Dreiser capped the run. Le Moyne responded with a 12-4 run to tie the ballgame at 13 apiece. After Achesinski made a free throw, the Dolphins made their first three-pointer to take the lead at 16-14. Both teams played tough defense, forcing many turnovers and rushed shots.

The Lakers played from behind for most of the rest of the half, trailing 20-16 at one point before Lindsay Whipkey scored two baskets and Prischak added a goal to reclaim a 22-20 lead. The Dolphins scored a three-point play to close the half leading 23-22.

For the game, the Lakers held a 38-29 advantage in rebounding, including 13-7 in offensive rebounds. The Lakers and Dolphins both shot 39 percent from the field for the game, and the Lakers hit five three-pointers to the Dolphins' two. Mercyhurst made just 7-of-14 free throws, while Le Moyne made 11-of15 tosses from the charity stripe.

Achesinski led all scorers with 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She scored 14 points in the second half, as she and Prischak combined for 22 of the Lakers' 32 points in the second stanza.

Prischak scored 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, hitting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. She led with two steals.

Loadman scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds. Whipkey added six points, while Abby Allen led the Lakers with eight rebounds and five assists. Artise scored three points and Dreiser contributed two.

Le Moyne was led by Holden and Courtney Coryea, who both scored nine points. Holden grabbed a team-high nine boards.

The Lakers play Wisconsin-Parkside Dec. 28 at the San Diego Surf 'N Slam Basketball Classic. They will also play UMass-Lowell in San Diego on Dec. 30.