Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team won, 78-65, against Lock Haven Tuesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Alayna White and Adrienne Kloecker combined for 40 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Lakers to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover win.

For a photo gallery from the game, please click here.
 
Mercyhurst jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, starting a 20-5 run to take control. Kloecker found Natalie Piaggesi for a layup at the 14:04 mark. The hoop put the Lakers up, 8-6, and they never trailed again. White then hit Piaggesi, who finished an and-one on the next possession. Piagessi then assisted on a White bucket for a 13-6 advantage with 12:51 remaining in the first half.
 
Hayley Andres followed with a three-pointer and then Mariah Penascino hit a shot for an 18-6 lead. After a Lock Haven hoop, Katie Fischer scored for a 20-8 lead with 10:24 to go. Kloecker got rolling from there, hitting a jumper, and after grabbing a pair of rebounds, she drained a trey for a 25-11 margin at the 6:57 mark. She continued with another triple to expand the lead further. Her jumper with 5:49 remaining gave Mercyhurst its largest lead at 30-13. The Eagles tried to stay in it, pulling with 36-30 at the half.
 
Kloecker sank another three 55 seconds into the second frame, but the visitors scored six straight points to make it 39-36 with 17:23 left. Fischer answered with a trey and a jumper. A White layup gave the hosts a 46-38 advantage after five minutes of second-half action. Jumpers by Piaggesi and Kloecker put the Lakers up, 50-42, but Lock Haven continued to battle.
 
A Sami Lane hoop made it 52-48 at the 10:13 mark, but White came back with a lay-in on the other end. After an Eagle score, White pulled down an offensive rebound and then scored. She split a pair of free throws to make it 57-53 with 6:32 to play. Kloecker scored inside to keep the Eagles at bay, but after another White basket, Marrysa Moyer hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five with 5:14 remaining.
 
Alex Artise picked an opportune time to hit her first trey of the night, putting Mercyhurst ahead, 66-58, at the 3:15 mark. Layups by Penascino, White, and Jessica Bell sealed the home win for the Lakers.
 
White totaled 22 points on 10-14 shooting. She grabbed 12 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. Kloecker recorded her first career double-double, putting up 18 points and 10 boards. She also dished out four assists. Piaggesi added 15 points and five rebounds, while Fischer tacked on nine points, four assists, and three steals. Penascino registered four points, seven boards, and four helpers. Moyer led Lock Haven with 23 points and eight rebounds.
 
Mercyhurst shot 48.4 percent (31-64) from the floor, while LHU hit 40.4 percent (23-57) of its attempts. The Lakers outrebounded the Eagles, 48-31, continuing their season-long dominance on the glass. They posted a 23-8 advantage in second chance points.

Mercyhurst improved to 2-6, as Lock Haven dropped to 1-7. The game does not count in PSAC standings.
 
The Lakers host Bloomsburg in another PSAC crossover tomorrow. The match is set for a 5:30 p.m. start at the MAC.