Box Score

CHEYNEY, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team won, 64-48, at Cheyney Saturday afternoon. The Lakers shot a season-high 55 percent from the field in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest at Cope Hall.
 
Cheyney scored the game's first points at the 18:31 mark. Dana Banda answered with a three-pointer on Mercyhurst's next possession. After a Wolves free throw, Lindsey Burke hit a jumper with 16:49 remaining. The teams went on a 4:54 scoreless drought until Kelley McBroom made a layup for a 7-3 advantage.
 
Kristi Ewanick sank a jumper to stretch the lead further, but Cheyney responded with a 9-0 run, capped by a Lachelle Miller trey at the 7:45 mark. Burke came back with a triple on the other end and then Taylor Krusinski gave the Lakers a 14-12 edge on a pair of free throws. The visitors never trailed again.
 
Krusinski followed with a layup and then Banda scored in the paint. Laura McCauley continued the Laker momentum with a lay-in at the 4:18 mark, putting Mercyhurst up 20-12. It expanded the margin in the final minute of the half, as Burke nailed a three and Alayna White converted a three-point play to make it 28-14 at the break.
 
The Wolves tried to get back in it early in the second frame, but the Lakers would not allow it Saturday. Kaylee Foster hit a trey and Kelsey Trosch made a layup for a 33-23 advantage. Banda hit another from long range and eventually, Abby Allen scored inside to make it 38-26 with 14:07 showing on the clock.
 
A few minutes later, Mercyhurst put the game away. Allen hit a three and a layup and Ewanick drained a trey for a 51-32 lead. A Burke triple with 6:15 to go put the Lakers ahead, 56-37.
 
Banda led the team with 13 points, hitting three three-pointers. Burke also made three treys, totaling 11 points and six rebounds. White had nine points and five boards, while Allen added nine points and four assists. Kyra Hines-Allen led Cheyney with 24 points.
 
The Lakers shot 22-40 (55 percent) from the field, including 9-18 (50 percent) from downtown. The Wolves shot just 15-54 (27.8 percent) from the floor-marking a season-low against the Lakers. Mercyhurst outscored Cheyney, 35-6, in points off the bench.
 
Mercyhurst improved to 4-9 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Cheyney is 0-12 overall in 2012-13.
 
Coach Deanna Richard's squad returns to the MAC for a PSAC Western Division game on Wednesday, January 16. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.