Slippery Rock, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team ran into a hot Slippery Rock team Saturday, dropping an 82-46 decision at Morrow Field House. The Rock placed six players in double-figures scoring, while Amy Achesinski led the Lakers with 13 points. 

Slippery Rock took control of the game early, leading 6-0 after just over two minutes of play. The Lakers scored the next five points to pull to within one at 6-5 on an Amy Achesinski layup with 14:26 remaining in the first half. The Rock then went on a 15-1 run to take a 21-6 lead with 10:30 left in the first half. Slippery Rock continued to add to its lead throughout the rest of the session, staking a 43-17 halftime lead. 

The Rock shot 60.7 percent from the field in the first half, compared to 27.3 percent for the Lakers. Mercyhurst went 0-9 from three-point range in the opening half, and committed 17 turnovers to the Rock's 10. Slippery Rock held a slight 17-15 advantage on the glass in the first half 

Achesinski led the Lakers with eight points and five boards in the first half, while Nikki Presto scored a team-high 10 points for The Rock in the opening session. 

The Lakers attempted to cut into the deficit in the second half, making early surges which were repeatedly answered by The Rock. Mercyhurst trimmed the margin to 24 points on a Stephanie Prischak layup with 18:18 remaining in the ballgame. The teams traded baskets for the next several minutes, and a Lindsay Whipkey jumper with 13:33 left made the score 55-31 in The Rock's favor. A 9-0 Slippery Rock run put the game out of reach at 64-31 with 10:39 left in regulation. A brief 5-0 Laker burst was answered by an 11-0 Rock surge that saw Slippery Rock's edge lift to 39 points at 75-36 with 6:53 remaining. The Lakers outscored The Rock 10-7 over the remainder of the ballgame and Slippery Rock prevailed, 82-46. 

With the setback, the Lakers fall to 9-12, including a 3-5 mark in the PSAC West. The Rock is now 8-13, 3-5 in PSAC West play. 

Turnovers plagued Mercyhurst, as The Rock forced 28 miscues while committing 21 themselves. The Lakers shot 31.5 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from the foul line. The Rock shot 54.5 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 73.1 percent from the line. The Rock won the rebounding battle, 38-32. 

Achesinski paced Mercyhurst with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 5-of-11 from the foul line. She also added six rebounds. 

Nikki Frederickson and Kelsey Gordon added seven points each, with Frederickson contributing four rebounds. Whipkey added six points, while Prischak score five markers. Jackie Artise hit one three-point goal for three points. Megan Hoffman and Janeale Ronai evenly split four points and Stevie Spetoskey made one foul shot and grabbed four boards. Abby Allen led with three steals. 

Presto led six Rock players in double-figures with 13 points. 

The Lakers return to the MAC Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. for an Erie County PSAC West clash with Edinboro. The Fighting Scots took the first meeting, 69-59 Jan. 21.