Box Score
ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 59-43, at #10 Gannon Wednesday evening. Alayna White had 10 points and seven rebounds in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game at the Hammermill Center.
 
After a slow start for both teams, the opponents settled in for a competitive first half. Adrienne Kloecker tied the game at 3 early before the Lady Knights took a slim margin they would maintain the rest of the period. Consecutive buckets by Kelsey Trosch kept the visitors close, but GU held its edge. A Brittany Batts three-pointer made it 15-9 Gannon with 12:03 left.
 
Alayna White scored the next five Laker points to get Mercyhurst close. Morgan Neighbors hit a jumper and then a trey to give GU a 22-14 advantage. Lindsey Burke and Kristi Ewanick each hit shots to get the Lakers within four. After a Gannon hoop, Ewanick drained another jumper with 3:57 remaining. A deep three by Batts with 41 seconds to play gave the hosts a 29-21 halftime lead.
 
Triples by Kloecker and Banda got the Lakers going in the second frame, but GU made two straight layups to take a 42-30 advantage with 12:02 left. The Knights went ahead by 14, but baskets by Kaylee Foster and Trosch made it 46-35. A White trey at the 6:37 mark inched the visitors closer. Gannon had the answers down the stretch, though, sealing the division victory.
 
White hit 4-10 field goals for 10 points. She also had seven boards and three steals. Kloecker and Trosch each scored six points. Kloecker grabbed seven rebounds. Nettie Blake paced Gannon with 17 points and 10 boards.
 
Mercyhurst shot 17-50 (34 percent) from the floor and 5-24 (20.8 percent) from long range. GU hit 22-51 (43.1 percent) of its field goal tries.
 
The Lakers dropped to 5-11 overall and 5-7 in the conference. The Knights are now 17-2 overall and 11-1 in the PSAC. Mercyhurst heads to Indiana (Pa.) for another PSAC West contest on Saturday, January 26. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.