Morgantown, W. Va. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team put up a tough fight against NCAA Division I West Virginia, but the Mountaineers pulled away late for an 88-38 victory over the visiting Lakers in front of 578 fans at the WVU Coliseum Wednesday night.

 

The Lakers (1-1) are in the midst of three games in five days against opponents from West Virginia. The Mountaineers improve to 6-1 with the win.

 

West Virginia scored the game's first seven points in the opening 2:30 of play, and then Mercyhurst answered with a 7-4 run over the next three minutes, narrowing the margin to four points at 11-7 with 14:30 remaining in the first half on a Stephanie Prischak jumper. After a Liz Repella three-pointer, Lindsay Whipkey made a layup, making the score 14-9 WVU.

 

The Mountaineers then went on a 24-5 run over the next 10 minutes, building a 38-14 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the first half. Kelsey Gordon made a field goal, followed by two WVU baskets, and the score was 42-16. Whipkey made a jumper and then Janeale Ronai sank a three, bringing the halftime score to 42-21 in the Mountaineers' favor. Mercyhurst ended the first half on a 7-4 run.

 

Mara Dreiser led the Lakers with six points in the opening session, while Amy Achesinki pulled down four rebounds. Sarah Miles scored 21 points for WVU in the first half. The Mountaineers shot 18-for-37 from the field, good for 48.6 percent. The Lakers shot 28 percent, and were outrebounded 25-17.

 

Mercyhurst opened the second half on a 7-1 run, getting a three-pointer from Prischak and field goals from Samantha Loadman and Dreiser in the first 2:22 to draw within 15 points at 43-28. After a 6-0 WVU run, Whipkey and Prischak made back-to-back baskets, closing the margin to 49-32 with 13:51 remaining.

 

The Mountaineers took over from there, using a 7-0 run and a pair of 14-0 runs on their way to outscoring the Lakers 39-6 during the last 13:51 of the game.

 

Prischak led the Lakers in scoring with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 2-for-3 from behind the arc. Dreiser scored eight points and added two assists and Whipkey contributed six points and four rebounds. Loadman led the Lakers with six boards to go with two markers. Ronai scored three points in her first career start. Achesinski scored three points and collected five caroms. Gordon and Stevie Spetoskey evenly split four points.

 

Miles led the Mountaineers with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Repella added 16 points, and Dominique Dixon scored 11 as WVU placed three players in double-figures on the evening.

 

For the game, WVU shot 51.5 percent from the field and 18-of-31 from the free throw line. Mercyhurst made seven out of their eight free throw attempts and 29.2 percent from the field. West Virginia outrebounded Mercyhurst 49-26 while grabbing 23 offensive rebounds. The Mountaineers turned 25 Laker turnovers into 38 points.

 

Mercyhurst plays at West Virginia Wesleyan Friday at 5:30. Live stats will be available during the game. Following Friday's contest, they travel to play Wheeling Jesuit Sunday.