ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 75-67, to Slippery Rock Saturday afternoon. The Lakers dropped their first home game of the season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
After falling behind by 14 in the second half, Hurst rallied behind senior Nikki Frederickson and freshman Lindsay Stamp. Stamp converted a three-point play with 10:36 left to make it 54-43. After a Paris Thomas jumper, Stamp drained a three-pointer to make it a 10-point game. Megan Hoffman then scored her first points of the day with a three-point effort, leading to a Frederickson layup to get within eight with seven minutes left.
 
Stamp nailed a jump shot and then Frederickson's lay-in made it 63-57 Rock. The two-time defending PSAC West athlete of the week connected on two more layups, putting the Lakers down 67-64 with 3:24 to play. Jasmine Cooper split two free throws for the visitors and then Frederickson finished a three-point play at the line, getting Mercyhurst within one with 89 seconds left.
 
D'Asia Chambers made a free throw, followed by the teams trading turnovers in the final minute. Hurst committed three turnovers in the last 48 seconds, with Thomas finally making the Lakers pay with two made free throws to seal the win.
 
Slippery Rock got out to a 5-0 lead to begin the contest and led 10-2 in the early going. Layups by Dana Banda and Frederickson got Hurst back into the game. After another Frederickson bucket, she assisted on a Kaylee Foster lay-in to get within one. With 12:31 left, Kelsey Trosch converted inside, giving the home team a 12-11 edge.
 
The Rock quickly regained control, going ahead 17-12 on a Cooper jumper with 10:42 to play in the first half. Abby Allen hit a three-pointer and then Lindsey Burke's lay-in made it 19-17 Rock with 8:26 to go. Stamp took over from there.
 
The rookie hit a three-pointer. After a Sherita Stanley bucket, Stamp drilled another triple and then a layup to put the Lakers up 25-24 with 5:19 remaining. Chambers hit two free throws to regain the Rock's lead. Stamp split two free throws, tying the match at 26 with 2:45. After a Rock bucket, Frederickson made two free throws. Then Chambers and Stamp traded triples before Thomas finished the half with a jump shot in the final minute. The visitors went into the locker room with a 33-31 advantage.
 
Slippery Rock (5-9, 2-8 PSAC) came out on fire in the second half, scoring seven straight points to open the action. With 13:01 left, Stamp hit another trey to make it 46-39. Erinne Cunningham put together a run, dropping three threes in two minutes to expand the Rock lead to 59-46.
 
Stamp finished with 24 points on 8-19 shooting, including five treys, in 22 minutes. Frederickson added 21 points on 9-16 shooting, along with six boards and five steals. Four players for the Rock were in double figures, led by Thomas with 16 points. She also totaled eight assists, six steals, and seven turnovers in the victory.
 
As a team, Hurst shot 40.7 percent from the field, while the Rock hit 54.3 percent, including 66.7 percent in the second half.
 
Hurst (8-6, 6-4 PSAC) continues its three-game homestand Wednesday, January 18. Crosstown rival Gannon comes to the MAC for another PSAC West matchup.
 
For a box score of the Slippery Rock-Mercyhurst game, please click here.