KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Amy Achesinski's 17 points was not enough as the Mercyhurst College Lakers fall to the Kutztown University Golden Bears, 81-56.

Achesinski led the Lakers' offense scoring a game-high 17 points while senior Samantha Loadman added nine points of her own. Defensively, Achesinski pulled in eight rebounds and blocked two shots. Sophomore Dana Banda led the team in assists with four.

The Golden Bears took control early starting the game on a 5-0 run. Loadman cut that lead to two on a 3-pointer. Kutztown and Mercyhurst exchanged leads over the next four minutes until the Lakers took their first lead of the game with 12 minutes left to play in the half.

An Achesinski layup followed by a Kaylee Foster free throw increased that lead to four. With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Golden Bears gave the game its first tie with a score of 13-13.

Kutztown scored the next two baskets, jumping out to a 17-13 lead with nine minutes to go. Nikki Frederickson cut that lead in half after scoring two of her seven points. Sophomore Lindsey Burke added a 3-pointer of her own, giving Mercyhurst its second lead of the night.

The Golden Bears regained the lead on a Melissa McQuade 3-pointer. However, Frederickson was able to tie the game up at 26 after scoring her only 3-pointer of the game. Loadman scored another three points, regaining the lead for the Lakers.

Kutztown scored the next 10 points to retake the lead at the close of the half (36-29). The Lakers shot 42 percent from the field (11-26) and 39 percent from the arc (5-13). The Golden Bears shot 48 percent from the field (14-29) and 50 percent from the arc (3-6).

The Golden Bears extended their lead to 14 early, scoring seven points in the first 1:30 of the second half. Mercyhurst continued to battle, chipping away at that lead. Loadman added her third and final 3-pointer and Achesinski scored two more of her points to decrease the lead to nine.

However, each time the Lakers chipped away, Kutztown was there to answer almost immediately. Mercyhurst managed to cut the lead to five with just over 11 minutes left to play, but this wasn't enough. The Golden Bears answered with the next six, pushing the lead back to 11.

A Banda 3-pointer and an Achesinski 3-point-play gave the Lakers one last chance with six minutes to play. However, it would be all Kutztown to follow as the Golden Bears scored 18 points to Mercyhurst's two to end the game.

Junior Megan Hoffman added six points while sophomore Kaylee Foster added five points of her own. For Kutztown, Ashley Wood led the offense with 20 points while Kristen Murray added 15 more.

As a team, the Lakers shot 40 percent from the field (21-52) and 39 percent from the arc (10-26). Kutztown shot 56 percent from the field (32-57) and 58 percent from the arc (7-12).

The Lakers are back in action Jan. 4 as they travel to East Stroudsburg. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.