LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team ended its season with a defeat, falling 69-68, at Lock Haven on Saturday afternoon. Nikki Frederickson had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lakers in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division loss.
 
The contest was tight throughout, with the Lakers maintaining a slim margin for much of the day. Lock Haven made a run midway through the second half and went ahead 46-45 with just over 10 minutes left. It led 59-57 after Peaches Nesmith hit a free throw with 5:13 left. Megan Hoffman hit a three-pointer to regain Hurst's edge on the next possession.
 
Sharay Hall put the Lady Eagles back ahead with a jumper at the 3:06 mark, but Dana Banda split two free throws, tying the score at 61. Mahogany Spence's layup with 1:40 remaining was followed by a Laker miss. Hall converted a free throw on the other end and then Frederickson knocked down two free throw tries to make it 64-63 with 59 seconds to play.
 
Heather McHugh made a trey to stretch the lead to four. Hoffman hit two free throws with 40 seconds to go, but Haven rebounded a miss, forcing Hurst to foul McHugh with six seconds showing on the clock. She calmly hit both attempts to put the game out of reach.
 
After Frederickson split two free throws 21 seconds into the game, the hosts hit two buckets to go up 4-1. Katie Carbee made a free throw and then Frederickson converted a pair from the line. Hurst would make a habit of getting to the charity stripe.
 
Haven scored twice and then Frederickson hit three layups and Kaylee Foster made a basket to put the Lakers ahead 12-8 with 13:20 remaining. Hall drained a three to stop the run, but Foster and Abby Allen each posted lay-ins to regain control.
 
Frederickson hit another layup a few minutes later and then made a free throw on the next trip down to make it 21-13 with just under nine minutes to play. Carbee and Banda each scored as Mercyhurst went ahead 26-18. Lysa Mealing hit a three-pointer and then the teams traded hoops as the Lakers went into the half with a 31-26 advantage.
 
Nesmith and Hoffman each hit baskets in the early going of the second frame and then Nesmith made a jumper and later a free throw to get the Eagles within one point. Hoffman responded with a triple to put the visitors ahead 36-32 with 16:31 left. Frederickson scored inside, but Hall came back with a free throw and then a three. Banda's trey gave Hurst a 44-40 edge with just under 12 minutes to play.
 
Spence and Nesmith each scored and then Hall made two free throws to put Haven ahead 46-45 with 10:05 to go. Hoffman connected from deep o even the score at 48 with 8:44 showing on the clock. Spence and Banda both scored and then Hall made two threes in less than a minute to give the Eagles control.
 
Frederickson totaled 20 points on 6-11 field goal shooting and 8-12 free throw shooting. She pulled down nine boards. Hoffman hit four triples on her way to 16 points and Banda posted 15 points and five assists. Foster came off the bench to score 10 points. Carbee and Allen each grabbed nine rebounds. Hall led Lock Haven with 23 points, while Nesmith had 16 points and seven boards.
 
Hurst hit 19-43 (44.2 percent) from the floor to go with 25-39 from the line. The Eagles made 24-70 (34.3 percent) shots.
 
Mercyhurst finishes the 2011-12 season with a 12-14 overall record and a 10-12 PSAC mark.
 
For a box score of the Mercyhurst-Lock Haven game, please click here.