Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- Senior forward Amy Achesinski records her seventh double-double of the season as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team extends its winning streak to four, toppling the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles, 76-59.

Achesinski shot 90 percent from the field, recording her seventh double-double (24 points, 12 rebounds) of the season. This ties her single season-high double-double mark (7), just 16 games in, giving her 27 double-doubles of her career.

Junior guard Nikki Frederickson added eight points of her own, pulling down seven rebounds, while senior Samantha Loadman accounted for 12 Laker points and eight rebounds.

Since joining the PSAC three years ago, the Lakers have not lost an opening game in divisional play, beating Slippery Rock twice prior.

Sharay Hall sank a layup one minute into the game, scoring the game's first points for Lock Haven.

Mercyhurst sophomore forward Kaylee Foster tied the game up 30 seconds later on a jumper in the paint.

The two teams played the next 10 minutes tough, exchanging leads five times. The Lakers held on to their lead after the nine minute mark when Achesinski drained a layup.

Mercyhurst added to its lead, pulling ahead six after sophomore Dana Banda and Achesinski made consecutive layups.

Good free-throw shooting and a couple Laker turnovers allowed the Bald Eagles to pull within one, just under the two minute mark. The senior poise of Achesinski and Loadman at the end of the half gave Mercyhurst a six point lead heading into the locker room.

Achesinski's perfection from the field (6-6) and 2-for-5 free-throw performance in the first half accounted for 14 of the Lakers' 38 points. Loadman drained 80 percent of her shots from the 3-point arc (4-5), scoring 12 points.

As a team, Mercyhurst shot 75 percent from the field (15-20) and 67 percent from beyond the arc (4-6).

Sharay Hall led the Bald Eagles' offense in the first half, scoring 16 of the teams 32 points. The team shot 42 percent from the field (13-31) and 36 percent from 3-point land (3-8).

The Lakers carried their first half momentum into the start of the second half, scoring the first four points and extending their lead to 10.
Lock Haven would not be able to find an answer for the Laker attack as Mercyhurst continued to pull away.

Megan Hoffman's 3-pointer with 13:30 left in the game sparked a Mercyhurst 10-1 run, putting the game out of reach for the Bald Eagles.

Kristen Kudrick and Peaches Nesmith battled hard for Lock Haven the remainder of the half, keeping the team within 10 points of the Lakers.

However, Banda, Achesinski and Hoffman put the final nail in the coffin, combining for 11-straight points with three minutes left in the game, extending the Lakers' lead to 22.

Hoffman finished the game with nine points and three rebounds, while Foster added seven points of her own.

The Lakers shot a season-high 59.6 percent from the field (28-47), while tying a season-high from the arc, 50 percent (7-14).

Mercyhurst moves to 9-7 on the season, 1-0 in PSAC West play.

The Lakers are back in action this Saturday, Jan. 15, as they host the California University (Pa.) Vulcans at 1 p.m.