SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Sophomore Dana Banda and senior Amy Achesinski scored in double-figures as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team powered past Slippery Rock, 60-46.  Achesinski finished the game one rebound shy of a double-double, ending with a game-high 15 points. This keeps her consecutive streak of scoring 10 or more alive. Defensively, she finished with nine boards and two blocked shots.

Banda ended with a second-best 14 points, but more impressively dished out five assists. This moves her single season total to 69.

Slippery Rock jumped out to an early six-point lead, scoring the first three baskets. Achesinski answered with a layup of her own, cutting the Rock lead to four at the 15:48 mark.

A Rock 7-2 run, ending with a Bethany Caudill layup increased that lead to nine, with just over 11 minutes to play in the half.

Sophomore Kaylee Foster added a jumper and a free-throw at the 10:14 mark cutting Slippery Rock's lead. However, Rock's Marlynda Harland had other plans, pushing their lead to double-figures (10).

The Lakers rallied late with an Achesinski layup, sparking a 10-0 run which tied the game up at 17-17, just under five minutes in the first. During this run, four different Mercyhurst players added points, highlighted by the five-point effort of Banda (Nikki Frederickson 2, Achesinski 2, Abby Allen 1).

Alex Beatty quickly answered for the Rock, retaking the lead with 3:57 left in the first half. Frederickson and Allen each added a free-throw tying the game back up at 19.

Three consecutive free-throws by Slippery Rock gave them a three-point advantage under the 1:00 mark. Achesinski scored the half's final two baskets under 22 seconds giving Mercyhurst a one-point lead heading into the locker room.

Achesinski led the Lakers in the first half with eight points. Banda added five points and two steals, allowing Mercyhurst to gain momentum heading into the half.

The Lakers shot 40.9 percent from the field (9-22) and just 16.7 percent from the arc (1-6). Highlighting the Rock in the first half was Emilee Vitez and Marlynda Harland who scored six and five points respectively.

Slippery Rock missed all five of their 3-point attempts and only made 8-20 attempts from the field (40 percent).

Mercyhurst carried that first-half momentum with them, starting the second half on an 11-4 run, giving them the eight-point advantage at the 13:48 mark. Megan Hoffman drained a 3-pointer and Achesinski and Samantha Loadman each added baskets completing the run.

Harland laid one off the glass, making it a two-possession game for the Rock, however, Hoffman sank a three giving the Lakers a nine-point lead.

Mercyhurst continued to pack on the lead, as Hoffman made yet another 3-pointer, followed by a Banda layup, giving the Lakers a double-figure lead for the first time (12) with 11 minutes left in the game.

The two teams exchanged baskets the next three minutes, until a Kelsey Trosch jumper sparked a Mercyhurst 11-0 run, putting the game out of reach for the Rock.

Banda swished a 3-pointer to finish the run, giving the Lakers its biggest lead of the game (18 points).

Slippery Rock made a couple late baskets, but it was too late, as Mercyhurst's Trosch drained a last second jumper, finalizing the Lakers' victory 60-46.

This is Mercyhurst's ninth victory of 10 points or more this season, and third in PSAC West play. Overall, the Lakers post an 11-8 record, 3-1 in conference action.

The Rock moves to 2-14 on the season, 0-4 in PSAC West action. Harland and Sherita Stanley led the Slippery Rock attack, each scoring double-figures in the loss (Harland 12, Stanley 11).

The Lakers are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 26, as they travel across town to take on arch rival Gannon University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.