Box Score

Millersville, Pa. – Mercyhurst junior Amy Achesinski broke the 1,000 career point and 500 rebound barriers, but the Lakers were unable to overcome a tough Millersville defensive effort in a 69-40 loss Sunday, Jan. 10. Achesinski led the team with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Kaylee Foster added 10 tallies for Mercyhurst.

Achesinski became the 16th member of Mercyhurst's 1,000 point club, and fourth fastest to reach the milestone, in 66 games. She is also the eighth player to register 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, and the first since Julie Anderson to do so.

The Lakers' seven-game winning streak came to an end, and the team is now 8-4 heading into conference play. Millersville, which received votes in the most recent national poll, improves to 10-3 on the season. Mercyhurst went 4-1 against PSAC East opponents this season.

The Marauders controlled the tempo of the contest, forcing 30 turnovers which they converted into 33 points. Mercyhurst committed nine turnovers in the first eight minutes of play, by which time Millersville had built a 20-5 advantage. The Lakers subsequently went on a 9-2 run, pulling to within seven at 22-15 with 5:40 left in the half. Achesinski, Katie Carbee, and Kelsey Gordon sank two free throws each and Kaylee Foster registered a layup during the Laker surge. Millersville pushed its lead back out to 13 by halftime, 33-20.

Achesinski grabbed her 500th career rebound with 14:10 left in the first half, and led MC at the half with six points and nine boards. Mercyhurst shot 33.3 percent (5-for-15) from the field, while Millersville made 13 out of 34 shot attempts in the first half. The Lakers suffered 17 turnovers during the first 20 minutes.

The Marauders scored the first nine points of the second half, with a Megan Hoffman three-pointer with 15:50 remaining serving as the Lakers' first field goal of the second half, bringing the Lakers to within 19 points at 42-23. Two foul shots from Foster sliced the deficit to 19 at 44-25 with 14:32 left. After that point, Millersville pulled away, containing Mercyhurst's offense and not allowing the Lakers to within 20 at any time over the remainder of the contest. MU capped a 29-point victory, winning 69-40.

The Lakers shot just 26.5 percent from the field on 9-of-34, but made 20-of-27 charity tosses. Millersville hit 48.1 percent of its shots, and went 58.3 (14-of-24) from the line. For the second game in a row, the Lakers were held to 25 rebounds, while Millersville grabbed 35 caroms.

Achesinski scored her 1,000th career point on a layup with 6:40 remaining in the game, and currently has 1,001 points. She registered her 19th career double-double and sixth of the season. She is the second Laker in as many years to pass 1,000 points, as Stephanie Prischak also achieved the feat at Lock Haven Jan. 24, 2009.

Foster entered double-figures with a pair of late free throws, and posted her third double-digit scoring game this season. She went 3-for-4 from the field and made all four free throw attempts.

Carbee and Gordon had four points each, while Hoffman and Jackie Artise hit one three-pointer each. Nikki Frederickson and Kelsey Trosch evenly split four points.

Mashira Newman and Raquel Green each had 10 points for the Marauders.

Mercyhurst opens the 14-game PSAC West slate Wednesday, Jan. 13 at Slippery Rock. The Lakers downed the Rock 80-66 Jan. 14, 2009 during their initial divisional contest last season. Slippery Rock is 3-10 after falling 65-62 at West Chester Sunday.