Box Score

Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College women's basketball team staked a 32-30 halftime lead Wednesday, Feb. 3 against No. 3 Gannon, but could not hold off the Lady Knights in the second half, falling 66-52 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Amy Achesinski led the Lakers with 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

The Lakers now hold a 12-7 record, 4-3 in the PSAC West, and occupy the fourth position in the division. Gannon continues its undefeated season at 23-0, 7-0 in PSAC West competition.

Mercyhurst shot just 21.4 percent from the field during the second half, and 35.8 for the game, and hit 3-of-17 three-pointers. Each team went 11-of-15 from the foul line. Gannon made 50 percent of its field goals during the second half, finishing at 42.4 for the game, also hitting 5-for-16 from three. GU held a 40-33 edge in rebounding, and doubled the Lakers in points in the paint, 40-20. Mercyhurst blocked a season-high five shots.

The second half began well for the Lakers, as a Dana Banda three-pointer on the first possession pushed the lead to five points at 35-30. However, Gannon staged a 16-2 run over the next five and a half minutes, taking a 46-37 lead on a Vargas three-pointer. After the teams traded baskets, Gannon led 49-38 with 13:35 left in the contest. Mercyhurst answered with a 7-0 run, drawing to within four points at 49-45 with 9:41 remaining. Achesinski made two baskets, sandwiched around a Samantha Loadman three-pointer during the skein. 

Gannon then scored the next six points to build its lead back to double-digits at 55-45 with 7:26 showing on the game clock. Mercyhurst got as close as seven points, at 57-50 when Hoffman sank two foul shots, but could get no closer, as the Lady Knights finished the game by scoring nine out of the final 11 points, winning 66-52.

Mercyhurst shot 52 percent from the field during the first half while holding the Lady Knights to 36.4 percent shooting, and the Lakers led 32-30 at halftime. Gannon built a six-point lead midway through the first half, as Shanna Thompsons's layup made it 16-10 GU at 10:42. The Lakers then went on a 12-5 run as part of an 18-8 burst which pushed Mercyhurst to a four-point advantage at 28-24 with three minutes left in the first half. Amy Achesinski and Lindsay Whipkey scored six points each during the Laker surge.

Gannon countered with a four-point possession, as Brittany Tabron made a shot and was fouled. Kim Vargas collected an offensive rebound off of Tabron's missed charity toss and tied the game at 28. Kelsey Gordon then made a layup, and Achesinski set the halftime score at 32-30 with late foul shots.
GU's Kim Vargas netted a game-high 17 points in a game which saw her score her 1,000th career point.

Achesinski totaled 15 points and 12 rebounds for her 21st career double-double and eighth this season, going 5-of-7 from the field. Her four blocks serve as a career high, and the most since Whipkey's four rejections Dec. 28, 2006.

Loadman scored 12 points and added a season-high-tying nine boards. She has grabbed nine rebounds in each of the last two games. Whipkey netted 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Banda registered five points, while Gordon and Megan Hoffman registered four points apiece. Hoffman dished out three assists, while Nikki Frederickson scored two points.

In addition to Vargas' 17 points, Brittany Tabron totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Julie Kleber notched 10 markers.

The Lakers will next play host to Slippery Rock Saturday, Feb. 6 at the MAC, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m. SRU is 4-16, 1-6 in PSAC West play after a 97-47 setback at No. 20 Cal Wednesday. Mercyhurst defeated The Rock 57-51 in the PSAC West opener Jan. 13.