ERIE, Pa. – First half dominance leads the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team to victory over cross-town rival, Gannon University, 75-63.

Gannon's reign over Mercyhurst the last seven years, came to an abrupt end after seniors Samantha Loadman and Amy Achesinski combined for 38-points, helping the Lakers snap an 18-game winless streak against the Golden Knights.

Loadman finished the night with a game-high 20 points, pushing her career total to 999. The two 3-pointers she made moves her into second place all-time with a career total of 215 made.

Achesinski's 18 points and 12 rebounds, sets a new personal season-high for double-doubles, increasing her total to eight this season.

After an opening bucket by Gannon, the Lakers took charge, going on a 15-0 run fueled by Loadman and sophomore Kaylee Foster. Loadman scored seven, while Foster accounted for six of her own.

Mercyhurst continued to have great looks from the court, shooting over 70 percent in the first 10 minutes of play.

Junior Megan Hoffman pushed the Laker lead to 15 after draining a wide-open 3-pointer with 8:42 left in the first half.

The Golden Knights managed to shake things up a bit, scoring two-straight baskets in hopes to kill the Mercyhurst momentum.

Sophomore Dana Banda and Hoffman had other plans, each sinking a 3-pointer within a minute of one-another, increasing that Laker lead back to 17 points.

Gannon ended the half on a 7-0 run, coming within 11-points of the Lakers.

Rebounding was a huge factor in the first half, as Mercyhurst held the Golden Knights to many one-shot possessions.

Loadman and Foster fronted the first half dominance, scoring nine and eight points respectively. Mercyhurst made 57.7 percent of its shots from the field (15-26) and 40 percent of its shots from the arc (4-10).

Gannon closed the half making only 40 percent of its shots from the field (10-25) and 16.7 percent of shots from the arc (2-12).

The Golden Knights came out swinging in the second half, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 10, with just over 16 minutes to play in the game.

Sophomore Katie Carbee countered that effort, swishing a 3-pointer at the 15:48 mark.

Gannon's Kelsey McCoy answered back with a three of her own, giving the Knights a chance to cut the lead to single-digits.

Loadman followed up with a 3-pointer and then a jumper in the paint, stopping the Gannon surge with 12:03 left.

However, a few missed opportunities, some fouls and back-to-back 3-pointers by the Golden Knights' Caitlyn Lowe chopped that lead down to nine, midway through the second.

Banda rekindled the Laker momentum, draining a 3-pointer from way downtown, pushing the Mercyhurst lead back to 11-points.

Every time the Golden Knights tried to rally, the Lakers answered with a big shot of their own.

The key to the second half was the play of Achesinski. She kept quiet in the first half, only scoring two-points. However, she came up with some big shots and rebounds in the second half, aiding to the Mercyhurst victory.

Her performance this evening movies her into fourth place all-time in rebounds with her career total now at 797, second place for free-throws made at 432 and third place in all-time scoring with 1,523-points.

Mercyhurst moves to 12-8 on the season and 4-1 in PSAC West play, riding a three-game winning streak.

Four Lakers ended the night, scoring double-figures, accounting for 58 of Mercyhurst's 75 points (20-Loadman, 18-Achesinski, 10-Banda, 10-Hoffman).

The Lakers shot 53.4 percent from the field (31-58) and 38.1 percent from 3-point land (8-21). Mercyhurst out-rebounded the Golden Knights 36-24.

Gannon finished the evening shooting 43.8 percent (21-48), making seven baskets from beyond the arc.

The Lakers begin a three-game home stand this Saturday, Jan. 29, against Indiana (Pa.). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.