Wheeling, W. Va. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team outscored Wheeling Jesuit 12-2 over the final 3:30 of play Sunday, using clutch shooting to pull out a 63-58 victory over the host Cardinals. Amy Achesinski scored 14 second-half points to ignite the late rally, while Mara Dreiser hit a game-winning three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining.

 

The Lakers improve to 2-3 on the season, while Wheeling Jesuit falls to 2-2.

 

Trailing 56-51 with less than three and a half minutes remaining, Mercyhurst mounted a comeback, as Stephanie Prischak drained a long three-point goal from the top of the key to slice the margin to two points at 56-54. After a Cardinal missed shot, Achesinski scored a basket to knot the game at 56 apiece.

 

Wheeling Jesuit then made a free throw, gaining a 57-56 edge. Achesinski followed that with another basket, reclaiming the lead. After the Cardinals made one of two free throws, the Lakers received the ball with 1:07 remaining. Mercyhurst moved the basketball on the right side, getting it down to Achesinski, who swung a cross-court pass to an open Dreiser for a three from the corner to give the Lakers a three point lead at 61-58.

 

After a Cardinal timeout, the Lakers played 30 seconds of tough defense, guarding the perimeter while not allowing WJU to generate a quality shot attempt. The Cardinals settled for a contested three-point attempt the came up short. Achesinski iced the game with two made free throws, and the Lakers came away with a 63-58 victory.

 

The Lakers led 37-36 at halftime and built a five point lead early in the second half at 42-37. The Cardinals then tightened up defensively and went on a 9-0 run over the next five and a half minutes to claim a 46-42 advantage. Prischak hit a three to pull to within one point at 46-45. The team traded baskets after that, with WJU scoring points off of turnovers and gaining second chances with offensive rebounds. A put-back lay-in gave the Cardinals a 56-51 lead with 3:31 left in the game.

 

Wheeling Jesuit made the first two baskets of the game, but Janeale Ronai, Samantha Loadman and Prischak hit three-pointers in succession during a 9-0 surge, giving the Lakers a 9-4 lead. After the Cardinals made a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to two points at 15-13, the Lakers went on a 13-6 run, stretching the lead to a game-high nine points with six minutes left in the opening half. WJU fought back, outscoring Mercyhurst 17-9 over the remainder of the first half, and the Lakers led 37-36 at intermission.

 

The Lakers shot 37.7 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the charity stripe for the game. The Cardinals shot 37.1 percent from the field and just 52.4 percent from the line. Mercyhurst outrebounded WJU 43-40 and scored 22 bench points to the Cardinals' six.

 

For the game, Achesinski scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Her first basket of the evening gave her 501 career points in just her 32^nd career game. She shot seven-for-seven from the foul line.

 

Prischak finished with nine points, including three three-pointers. Stevie Spetoskey scored seven points. Abby Allen contributed six points while leading the team with nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Dreiser recorded five points, including the winning three-point basket.

 

Lindsay Whipkey recorded four points and six boards. Ronai and Loadman made one three-point goal each. Nikki Frederickson hit a layup late in the second half for two points. Kelsey Gordon finished with one point.

 

Lindsay Stuckey scored 20 points for Wheeling Jesuit, followed by Megan Stuvek with 11. Stuvek and Kim Mueller each grabbed 10 rebounds.

 

The Lakers are back in action Saturday, as they host the Lake Erie Storm 1 p.m. at the MAC.