ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team beat Lock Haven, 80-57, Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Junior Dana Banda scored a career-high 25 points in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division victory.
 
The Lady Eagles took a 14-13 lead on a Kelsey Ryan jumper with 10:08 left in the first half, but Hurst used a 20-6 run to close the frame with a 13-point advantage. Megan Hoffman hit a three-pointer and then Nikki Frederickson made two baskets. After two LHU free throws, Banda hit two free throw tries and then converted a three-point play with 4:30 to go. Three Frederickson layups later, the Lakers had a 31-20 margin. Two Abby Allen free throws made it 33-20 at the break.
 
In the second half, Frederickson continued her stellar play with a lay-in and a free throw. Banda followed with a basket and then Hoffman drained a trey, giving the hosts a 41-20 lead. Banda kept it going with another triple and eventually, Hoffman would strike from deep again, putting Mercyhurst ahead 47-24 with 14:22 remaining.
 
Banda put together a stretch of eight points in four minutes as the Lakers pulled away to a 23-point lead. A three-point play by freshman Lindsay Stamp made it 66-40 with 7:41 to play. Banda made a layup with 5:54 left to tie her previous career high of 23 points. The junior had put up 23 at Notre Dame College on December 9, 2010. Two free throws with just under four minutes to play set a new personal mark.
 
The win improved Hurst's record to 9-10 overall and 7-8 in the PSAC. The Lakers are two games behind California (Pa.) for fourth place in the Western Division. Lock Haven fell to 7-11 overall and 6-9 in the league.
 
Banda finished with 25 points on 6-11 shooting from the field and 12-13 accuracy from the free throw line. She also handed out six assists and grabbed two steals. Frederickson added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Hoffman and Foster each scored nine. Three Eagles scored double digits, led by McHugh with 13 points.
 
As a team, the Lakers shot 52.1 percent from the field, including 15-24 (62.5 percent) in the second half. They connected on 25-31 free throw attempts. Haven hit 35 percent from the floor. Hurst outrebounded the Eagles, 39-27, in the contest.
 
Hurst travels to Slippery Rock for a key PSAC West meeting Saturday, February 4. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
For a box score of the Lock Haven-Mercyhurst game, please click here.