Box Score

Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team fell behind 47-22 at halftime, and lost 78-60 to No. 11 Indiana (Pa.) Saturday despite a late rally in front of 214 fans at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Jahzinga Tracey led four IUP players in double figures with 21 points, while Samantha Loadman scored 12 points and was one of three Lakers to reach double digits. 

Early in the game, IUP took a 6-3 lead on two Kylie Miller threes sandwiched around a Megan Hoffman triple. Hoffman made a jumper to pull Mercyhurst to within one point at 6-5 with 15:46 left in the first half before IUP went on a 13-2 run over the next five and a half minutes to take a 12 point lead at 19-7. After the Crimson Hawks' lead stood to 12 at 24-12, Mercyhurst's Janeale Ronai made a three, and then teammate Lindsay Whipkey nailed a jumper to trim the margin to seven points at 24-17 with 7:11 remaining in the opening session. IUP outscored Mercyhurst 23-5 over the balance of the first half, and led 47-22 at intermission. 

Miller scored 14 first-half points and Jahzinga Tracey had thirteen in the opening session. The Crimson Hawks shot 57.1 percent from the field, made four threes, and shot 11-for-12 from the line. The Lakers made four three-pointers as well, but shot 36 percent from the field and did not attempt a free throw. 

After halftime, the Crimson Hawks built their lead to 30 points at 53-23 before a 6-0 Laker run that saw a #Samantha# Loadman three-point goal, a Whipkey jumper and a Nikki Frederickson made free throw. The Lakers trailed 53-29 with 14:47 to go, and IUP controlled the game for the next ten minutes, claiming a 71-40 lead with 5:48 remaining. Mercyhurst outscored the Crimson Hawks 20-7 over the remainder of regulation, receiving six points each from Whipkey, Loadman and freshman Meghan Dougherty, and two points from Stevie Spetoskey. Loadman and Dougherty each made two three-pointers in the late surge. IUP prevailed, 78-60, winning its fifth straight contest. 

The Lakers won the second half, 38-31, shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range in the final frame. For the game, Mercyhurst made 42.6 percent of its field goal attempts and drilled nine three-pointers. IUP shot 52.8 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range, and 76.2 percent from the foul line. The Crimson Hawks outrebounded the Lakers 33-30 overall, but Mercyhurst held a 13-11 edge in offensive boards and 18-17 advantage in second chance points. 

For the Lakers, Loadman made four out of her six three-point attempts and finished with 12 points. Her four made three-pointers were the most she had made since her seven three-pointer outing Dec. 13 vs. Lake Erie. 

Frederickson, a freshman, provided 10 points and five rebounds, all offensive, off the bench. She set new career highs for points and rebounds in a game, and is the first Mercyhurst freshman to score in double-digits in a game this season. She also led with two steals. 

Whipkey netted 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and led Mercyhurst with a season-high eight boards and two blocked shots. She made four of her five baskets in the second half, aiding the Lakers' 38-point closing session. 

Stephanie Prischak scored nine points on 4-of-9 shooting. Dougherty made two three-pointers for a career-high six points. Hoffman scored six points, led the Lakers with five assists, and grabbed four boards. Ronai made one triple for three points, while Kelsey Gordon and Spetoskey added two points apiece. Amy Achesinski was held scoreless by the stingy IUP defense, but contributed four rebounds. 

Jahzinga Tracey led IUP with 21 points and five rebounds, and grabbed her 1,000th career carom during the first half. Kylie Mille made four three-pointers and finished with 17 points. 

The Lakers travel to play at Clarion Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Golden Eagles are 9-13, 3-6 in PSAC West play entering tonight's game at Gannon. The Lakers beat Clarion 56-45 Jan. 28 at the MAC behind 24 points from Prischak.