Box Score

San Diego, Calif. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team dropped a 70-60 decision to UMass-Lowell Tuesday in their second game of the San Diego Surf 'N Slam Classic. Amy Achesinski and Stephanie Prischak were named to the Surf Division All-Star Team for Mercyhurst, while Megan Berry and Jen Valente were honored for UMass-Lowell.

The RiverHawks scored the game's final 10 points, holding the Lakers scoreless for the last six minutes of play.

The first half was evenly played, with the score being tied four times. UMass-Lowell built its lead to as many as seven points in the first half, and the half time score stood at 37-32.

After trailing 37-32 at halftime, Mercyhurst saw their deficit grow to 11 points at 44-33 with 17:52 left in the game. The Lakers then went on a 14-2 surge in the next three minutes to take a 47-46 lead. Janeale Ronai and Prischak each drilled two three-pointers and Achesinski added three points of her own during the Lakers' burst.

The teams traded the lead a couple times in the ensuing minutes, and then the Lakers took their largest lead at 55-51 with 9:27 remaining when Achesinski hit a layup to cap a 5-0 run. UMass-Lowell outscored Mercyhurst 9-3 over the next three minutes to take a 60-58 lead with 6:27 left in the contest. Mara Dreiser tied the game at 60 apiece with 6:09 left, and then the RiverHawks controlled the rest of the game, pulling away with ten unanswered points to prevail, 70-60.

For the game, the Lakers shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from behind the arc (10-for-24), marking the second time this season that Mercyhurst has hit double-digit trifectas. UMass-Lowell shot 47.5 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range. The RiverHawks outrebounded the Lakers 39-25 and turned 23 Mercyhurst turnovers into 25 points.

Prischak led Mercyhurst with 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc. She led with a game-high four steals.

Achesinski added 13 points and tied for the team lead with five rebounds and tied a career high with four assists. 

Ronai scored a career-high eight points, including two threes. Jackie Artise and Dreiser had seven tallies each, while Artise hit two three-pointers and Dreiser made one. Abby Allen contributed four points and three steals. Megan Hoffman scored three points, as did Samantha Loadman, who pulled down five rebounds.

UMass-Lowell placed four players in double-figures, led by Berry and Revital Carmon with 12 points each.

Mercyhurst's record stands at 4-5 after the classic, and UMass-Lowell is now 5-5.

Upon returning from California, the Lakers travel to play two PSAC crossover contests this weekend, taking on No. 15 Shippensburg Saturday and playing at Cheyney Sunday. Both games will tip off at 1 p.m.