ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team beat Kutztown, 67-60, in its 2011-12 home opener Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Senior Nikki Frederickson posted career highs with 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lakers.


 
In the second half, Kaylee Foster made a layup to tie the contest at 34 with 16:38 to play. Sisson answered with a three-pointer to regain the lead. A Frederickson jumper and an Abby Allen triple gave the home team a 41-37 advantage six minutes into the second frame. Hurst would not relinquish the lead.
 
Hoffman hit a three and Foster made a jump shot to expand the edge to seven. Two more Frederickson lay-ins put the Lakers up 11 midway through the half. Katie Carbee nailed a three-pointer a few minutes later for a 55-45 Laker lead. The Bears never seriously threatened after that.
 
Megan Hoffman gave Hurst its first lead of the game with a three-pointer a minute into the contest. Frederickson tied the game at 11 with 15:15 left, but the visitors went on a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to take control. Frederickson's lay-in at the 8:34 mark tied the match at 19-19, then freshman Lindsay Stamp made a layup to put Mercyhurst ahead 21-19. After a KU free throw, Frederickson and Stamp combined for two more layups to put the Lakers ahead 25-20.
 
Lindsey Burke's trey with 2:21 left put Hurst up 30-23, but Andrea Sisson's three highlighted a 9-0 run to close the half with a 32-30 Bear edge.
 
Frederickson hit 9-13 shots from the floor and grabbed four offensive boards in her career day. She also had three assists, three blocks, and two steals in 33 minutes. Foster was next with 13 points, including 6-9 free throw shooting. Hoffman totaled nine points on three triples, while Katie Carbee pulled down eight rebounds and had three steals. Banda dished out six assists and three steals in 36 minutes.
 
The Lakers shot 44.8 percent from the field and outrebounded the Bears, 43-33. Kutztown shot 29.4 percent from the floor, but hit 24-29 free throw attempts in defeat. Sisson led with 24 points on six three-pointers.
 
Hurst plays again tomorrow. East Stroudsburg is the opponent for the 1 p.m. tip at the MAC.
 
For a box score of the Kutztown-Mercyhurst game, please click here.