Box Score

Edinboro, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team shot 50 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three-point range, but fell behind 36-23 to Edinboro by halftime and eventually lost 69-59 Wednesday at McComb Fieldhouse. Mercyhurst sophomore Amy Achesinski led all players with 29 points and 14 rebounds. 

With the loss, Mercyhurst is now 7-9, including 1-2 in PSAC West play. Edinboro's record stands at 11-5, 2-1 in the PSAC Western Division. 

After a slow start to the contest, Megan Hoffman gave the Lakers a 5-2 lead with a three-pointer with 16:44 left in the first half. Edinboro promptly went on a 9-0 run to take early control of the ballgame. The 9-0 run was part of a 23-4 skein the Fighting Scots engineered to take a 25-9 lead with nine minutes left in the first half. Edinboro converted six Mercyhurst turnovers into 12 points during their run. The Lakers then went on a 10-4 run to pull to within nine points at 28-19 with 4:37 to go in the first half. Edinboro increased its lead to 13 points, 36-23, by halftime. 

Achesinski scored 12 point for the Lakers and grabbed five rebounds during the first half. Kelsey Conklin scored 14 first half points while Renee Brown contributed 12. Mercyhurst shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, compared to 42.9 percent for Edinboro. The Fighting Scots went 5-for-8 from the foul line in the first half, while the Lakers went 0-for-2. 

Achesinski scored the Lakers' first seven points of the second half, keying a 10-5 run that ended with a Stephanie Prischak three-pointer to draw Mercyhurst to within eight points at 41-33 with 17:25 remaining. Edinboro built its lead to 14 at 49-35 with 14:18 left in the game before the Lakers stormed back with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to make the score 51-45. Abby Allen made a basket, followed by three-pointers from Jackie Artise and Samantha Loadman, and Achesinski capped the run with a layup. After a brief flourish, the closest the Lakers would draw was to within seven points at 56-49 with 6:33 left. The teams played evenly the rest of the way, with Edinboro prevailing 69-59. 

The Lakers shot 50 percent from the field for the game on 26-of-52 shooting, and made four out of seven three-point attempts. Mercyhurst made three out of six free throws. Edinboro shot 43.3 percent from the field, 4-of-14 from three-point range, and 13-of-24 from the foul line. The Lakers outrebounded the Fighting Scots, 36-35, but committed 22 turnovers while Edinboro had half as many turnovers. 

Achesinski led all players with a season-high 29 points on 14-of-22 shooting, and also collected a season-high 14 caroms. 

Allen contributed a career-high eight points and led the team with four assists. Hoffman scored five points and Nikki Frederickson added four. Artise, Loadman, and Prischak one three pointer apiece for three points. Janeale Ronai and Lindsay Whipkey evenly split four points. 

Achesinski's night marked the first time a Mercyhurst women's basketball player recorded 25 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in the same game since Jan. 6, 2007, when Julie Anderson scored 29 and pulled down 12 rebounds in a 94-82 loss to Ashland. 

Edinboro placed three players in double-figures in scoring, led by Renee Brown with 21. Samantha Reimer scored 19 points and Kelsey Conklin added 16. 

The Lakers conclude their three-game road swing Saturday at Lock Haven, with tip off set for 1 p.m. Lock Haven is 3-13, 0-3 in PSAC West play. Mercyhurst is 5-4 all-time against Lock Haven, with the last meeting being an 89-78 Laker victory Dec. 30, 2007.