CLARION, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team won at Clarion, 55-46, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opener Wednesday evening. The Lakers rode another strong defensive effort to their eighth win in nine games.


 
Hurst broke open a tight game late, as the visitors finished the contest on a 16-6 run. Kaylee Foster made a layup with 7:28 left for a 41-40 lead, but Ann Deibert responded with a bucket to regain the Clarion edge. With 6:24 to play, Foster nailed a triple for a 44-42 advantage-one the Lakers would not relinquish.
 
Nikki Frederickson converted two free throws and then Lindsey Burke did the same after the Golden Eagles split two of their own. Courtney Healy's lay-in made it 47-45 Hurst, but Coach Deanna Richard's squad buckled down and closed out the division-opener. Foster made four straight free throws with under two minutes left and then added a layup to seal the outcome.
 
The game got off to a quick start, as Deibert made the first shot for Clarion and then the Lakers hit four straight field goals after a miss to begin the game. Frederickson made a layup, Burke drained a three-pointer, and Frederickson scored two more points. Katie Carbee converted a layup for a 9-6 Mercyhurst edge.
 
With 14:52 left, Frederickson made her third lay-in, but Emma Fickel answered with a trey for Clarion. Freshman Lindsay Stamp entered the contest and immediately nailed a triple for a 14-9 Hurst lead with 13:39 remaining. The score stayed the same for more than minutes before Stamp finally ended the drought with another three. The Golden Eagles went 5:07 without scoring, as Mackenzie Clark's layup got her team within six at the 9:34 mark.
 
Frederickson hit her third trey of the season with 9:07 to go and then Clarion went on a 6-0 spurt to back in the game. Clark eventually hit a lay-in with 4:36 left to tie the game at 22. Dana Banda's three-pointer regained the lead for the visitors and the Lakers headed into the locker room with a 27-25 advantage.
 
Two lay-ins by Banda sandwiched a Frederickson basket to begin the second frame. Two Hannah Heeter buckets got the Eagles close and then Amanda Gough's trey gave the home team a 38-37 edge with 14:05 left. Janeale Ronai and Deibert traded jumpers and then Hurst controlled the stretch run.
 
Frederickson led the way with 15 points and seven boards. Foster added 11 points and four rebounds and Banda recorded nine points with six assists and no turnovers in 40 minutes. Heeter led Clarion with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
As a team, the Lakers shot 20-59 (33.9 percent) from the field, while the Eagles hit 18-48 shots for a 37.5 percentage. Mercyhurst forced Clarion into 22 turnovers, leading to an 18-9 Hurst advantage in points off turnovers. The Lakers also got 23 bench points in the road victory.
 
Hurst (8-5, 6-3 PSAC) returns home for its next three contests, starting with Slippery Rock Saturday, January 14. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at the MAC.
 
For a box score of the Mercyhurst-Clarion game, please click here.