Box Score

Slippery Rock, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team opened PSAC West play with a 57-51 triumph at Slippery Rock Wednesday, Jan. 13, as a 10-0 Laker surge in the second half keyed the victory. Amy Achesinski led the Lakers with 12 points, while Dana Banda and Kelsey Gordon registered 10 points apiece.

The Lakers, now 9-4 overall, are 1-0 in PSAC West play, after their second divisional-opening win over The Rock in as many years. Mercyhurst won its initial PSAC West game Jan. 14, 2009, 80-66 over SRU. With Wednesday's loss, The Rock falls to 3-11, 0-1 in PSAC's Western Division.

Mercyhurst, trailing 25-23 at halftime, needed nearly five minutes to score their first field goal of the second half, as a Dana Banda three-pointer tied the game at 27 apiece with 15:25 remaining. SRU tallied the next four points, taking a four-point lead at 31-27.

The Lakers then turned up the defensive pressure, getting steals and turning them into transition opportunities, staging a 10-0 run to give them a six-point lead with 8:42 left. Megan Hoffman capped the run with a triple. Kelsey Gordon made two jumpers and Kaylee Foster added three points during the run.

Slippery Rock threatened with its outside shooting, and Julie Molloy brought The Rock to within four points at 44-40 with 4:49 left with a shot from downtown. Two Bethany Caudill free throws trimmed the deficit to two points at 44-42.

Following several exchanges of free throws, Banda hit a three to give the Lakers a six-point edge at 52-46 with 2:25 left. The Rock scored the next five points, pulling to within one at 52-51 with a minute and a half remaining. Amy Achesinski scored a three-point play on the next possession. The Rock's ensuing jump shots did not fall, and Mercyhurst prevailed, 57-51.

For the game, the Lakers shot 43.9 percent from the field, and made eight three-point shots. Mercyhurst edged out SRU in the rebounding battle, 35-31, while Slippery Rock held a 14-11 advantage in offensive boards. The Rock was held to a 30.2 percent showing from the field, while also hitting six three-pointers. Mercyhurst dished out 16 assists as a team, compared to 11 for the Lakers.

The first half was evenly played, with three points serving as the largest lead for either team. Mercyhurst held an early advantage, and led 21-19 following a Hoffman three-pointer with 2:54 left in the half. SRU outscored the Lakers 6-2 over the remainder of the opening session, taking a 25-23 lead into the half.

Achesinski led three Lakers in double-figures with 12 points, also pulling down six rebounds. It was her ninth straight game with 10 or more points.

Two Laker guards scored 10 points apiece, as Banda and Gordon each helped spark the second-half offensive production. Banda hit two three-pointers, and sank all four of her foul shots. Hoffman scored seven points, hitting two triples, dished out four assists, and grabbed five boards. Loadman went deep twice, scoring six points. Nikki Frederickson tallied two points.

Gordon spurred Mercyhurst's 20-8 bench scoring advantage with 10, sinking all of her shots (4-4 FG, 2-2 3FG), while posting a season high in points. Katie Carbee made the most of 22 minutes, leading the team with a career-high nine rebounds and tying for the team lead with four assists to go with one point and one steal. Lindsay Whipkey added six markers. Kaylee Foster scored three points and led the team with a career-best two steals.

Slippery Rock was led by Nikki Presto's double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Molloy scored 14 points.

The Lakers' 9-4 start is the best mark after 13 games since the 1999-2000 team also went 9-4 through 13 contests, on the way to a 15-12 record.

The Lakers return to the MAC to play host to Indiana (Pa.) Saturday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. The Crimson Hawks hold an 8-5 record, 1-0 in divisional play after a 72-65 victory over Clarion Wednesday.