Box Score

Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball stormed to a 49-15 halftime lead and pulled away for an 80-40 victory over visiting Salem International Friday, Nov. 20. Senior Jackie Artise led the Lakers with a career-high 26 points, sinking eight three-pointers on the evening.

Friday's game, originally scheduled to be played at SIU, was moved to Mercyhurst due to renovations at the Salem athletics facilities. The Lakers took advantage of the change in venue, posting their first 40-point win in nine years.

With the win, Mercyhurst improves to 1-1 on the season, while the Tigers are now 0-1.

To open the game the Lakers scored the first six points, a sign of things to come, as Lindsay Whipkey netted four points and Amy Achesinski added a layup during the first two minutes. SIU got on the board with 17:15 remaining, and trailed by eight points at 14-6 with 12:16 left. 

The Lakers then went on a 35-3 run, taking a 49-9 lead with 1:58 left in the half. Nikki Frederickson scored five points early in the skein, and then Jackie Artise began rifling in three-point goals, scoring 20 out of the Lakers' final 26 points in the half. Freshman Lindsey Burke scored her first career basket during the first half run. The Tigers tallied the last six points of the half, and Mercyhurst led 49-15 at intermission.

Artise led all scorers in the first half with 20 points, making 6-of-7 from downtown. The Lakers as a team shot 66.7 percent during the first half (20-of-30), while SIU went 12.9 percent from the field.

During the second half, Salem began making more shots, but the Tigers could not get any closer than 34 points behind, as the Lakers continued converting three-pointers. Frederickson connected on a three, and then Artise added two more triples, giving the Lakers a 64-26 lead with 13:06 left in the game.

Kaylee Foster earned her first career point, nailing a foul shot with 10:36 left. Frederickson and Whipkey each entered double-figures in scoring with six points in the second half. The teams played evenly for the remainder of the contest, and Mercyhurst posted an 80-40 victory, with Katie Carbee tallying her first points as a Laker late in the contest.

For the game, the Lakers shot 56.4 percent from the field, including a 12 for 26 (46.2%) performance from three-point range. The Tigers made 19.7 percent of their shots, and went 1 of 10 on three-pointers. Mercyhurst outrebounded SIU 47-33, but the Tigers held a 19-10 advantage in offensive boards. The Lakers recorded 27 assists to the Tigers' seven.

The 40-point margin was the largest for the Lakers since a 96-45 win over Kendall Nov. 18, 2000. Also, Friday was the first time Mercyhurst had held an opponent to 40 or fewer points since a 105-29 triumph against Columbia Union Jan. 2, 2000.

Artise led all scorers with 26 points, a new career high. She made eight three pointers on 10 attempts, one three shy of Connie Ralston's program record of nine, set Dec. 28, 1994.

Frederickson scored a career-high 15 points, making two three-pointers and 5-of-6 foul shots. Whipkey went 6-of-7 from the field for 12 points, while also registering a block. Samantha Loadman notched nine points, grabbed nine boards and dished out four assists. Achesinski registered six points and seven rebounds.

Megan Hoffman scored three points, while Carbee, Burke, Abby Allen, and Kelsey Gordon each added two points. Allen also distributed four assists, while Carbee led the team with three steals. Foster recorded one point, and Dana Banda led the team with five assists.

Emily Bowles led SIU with 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Lakers will next compete in the Holiday Inn Express Classic, hosted by Ashland Univ. Saturday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 29. Mercyhurst will take on former GLIAC rival AU Saturday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. before playing Northwood Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.