Box Score

Lock Haven, Pa. – Stephanie Prischak scored her 1,000th career point during a key second half run, as the Lakers used a strong second half to pull away from Lock Haven for a 74-61 victory Saturday at Thomas Fieldhouse. The Lakers, who evened their conference record at 2-2 with the win, placed three players in double figures in scoring on the afternoon. 

Trailing 32-29 at halftime, the Lakers played comeback basketball to begin the second half, but still trailed by seven points at 45-38 with 15:23 remaining. The Lakers then turned up their defensive pressure, causing seven turnovers during the next few minutes. During the span, the Lakers went on an 11-2 run, receiving three jumpers from Lindsay Whipkey, one Prsichak field goal, and a Jackie Artise three-pointer which gave Mercyhurst a 49-47 lead with 10:37 left. 

Lock Haven tied the ballgame at 49, but the Lakers took over from there. Prischak scored three baskets in a 6-0 Mercyhurst spurt, and Amy Achesinski gave the Lakers a 57-51 lead with 7:53 remaining. On the next offensive possession, Prischak drilled a deep three-point goal to put Mercyhurst ahead 60-51. With the triple, she scored her 1,000th career point. After the Lakers built their lead to 12 points, Lock Haven fashioned a 7-0 run and trailed 62-58 with 3:37 left in the game. Mercyhurst outscored Lock Haven 12-3 the rest of the way, winning 74-61. In all, Mercyhurst outscored Lock Haven 36-16 in the final 15 minutes of play. 

The Lakers shot 59.4 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 52.8 percent. Mercyhurst made 7-of-21 threes and 11-of-17 free throws for the contest. Lock Haven shot 36.1 percent from the field and 5-of-15 from behind the arc. The Lady Eagles outrebounded the Lakers 37-34, including 14-7 in offensive rebounds. Both teams committed 18 turnovers. 

The game began slowly, as the teams traded leads for the first nine minutes and Mercyhurst led 11-10 with 10:44 remaining in the first half. Lock Haven went on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to claim a 20-11 lead. Stevie Spetoskey sparked an 8-3 run, hitting two free throws and a three-pointer, and Whipkey made a jumper to pull the Lakers to within five points at 23-18 with 5:27 left in the opening session. 

The Lady Eagles built their lead back to nine points at 28-19, but the Lakers stormed back with eight unanswered points to cut the deficit to one point at 28-27 with 1:18 to go in the opening half. The late run was keyed by a three-point play from Achesinski and another Spetoskey three-point goal. Lock Haven went into halftime clinging to a three-point lead, 32-29. 

Mercyhurst is now 8-9, including a 2-2 mark in the PSAC West. The Lakers have surpassed their win total from 2007-08. The Lady Eagles' record stands at 3-14, 0-4 in PSAC West play. 

After being held to two points in the first half, Prischak led the Lakers with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting for the game. She is the 15th Mercyhurst women's basketball player to score 1,000 or more points in her career, and the first since Julie Anderson joined the 1,000 point club Feb. 23, 2006 at Gannon. She also led the team with four steals and three assists. 

Achesinski scored 13 points, making five out of her eight field goal attempts, and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. She has scored over 700 career points. Whipkey added a season-high 13 points as well, shooting 6-of-8 from the floor. 

Spetoskey scored a season-high eight points, making two three-pointers in the first half. Megan Hoffman scored six points and grabbed six rebounds. Artise finished with six points as well. Samantha Loadman contributed three points. Nikki Frederickson and Abby Allen each scored two points, while Kelsey Gordon and Janeale Ronai evenly split two markers. 

Lauren Kelshaw led Lock Haven with 18 points, including four three-pointers. 

The Lakers return to the MAC for a three-game PSAC West homestand, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 vs. Clarion. They will also host No. 4 California (Pa.) Saturday, Jan. 31 and Gannon Feb. 4.