Box Score EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 54-47, at East Stroudsburg Saturday afternoon. Jessica Bell posted eight points and a career-high 13 rebounds in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The hosts scored the first eight points of the game, taking control early. Mercyhurst quickly responded, though. Jessica Bell hit two free throws to put the Lakers on the board at the 16:12 mark. Natalie Piaggesi followed with a putback to make it 8-4 after five minutes of action. Piaggesi then found Alex Artise for a three-pointer, making it a one-point contest. 

After ESU took a 12-8 advantage, Alayna White drained her first trey of the season and then followed with a jumper to pull within a point at the 10:35 mark. A 19-7 Warrior run gave East Stroudsburg a 33-23 halftime lead.

In the second frame, Adrienne Kloecker made a pair of foul shots and then Katie Fischer made a jumper to pull within six points. The Warriors responded by stretching their margin to 11 points, but a Kloecker trey at the 13:34 mark made it 40-32. Piagessi followed with two free throws and then Kloecker drilled another triple to make it 40-37 with 12:34 left.

ESU scored next, but Bell scored inside and then Piaggesi made a layup to put the Lakers down 42-41 with just under ten minutes remaining. East Stroudsburg came back with seven straight points, but the Lakers kept at it. Piaggesi made two foul shots and eventually, White made a lay-in, cutting the deficit to 50-45 with 3:20 to go. Neither team could score in the next two minutes before Mariah Penascino connected on two foul shots, putting Mercyhurst down three with 1:04 showing on the clock. The Lakers would not score again, however.

Bell finished with eight points and a career-best 13 boards. Piaggesi recorded 10 points and seven rebounds, while White had 10 points and five boards. Kloecker added nine points and five rebounds. Jessica Martin paced ESU with nine points and 11 rebounds.

Mercyhurst held a 44-38 advantage on the glass, outrebounding its opponent for the ninth time in ten outings. 

The Lakers are now 2-8 this season. East Stroudsburg improved to 6-5. Mercyhurst returns to action on January 3, 2014, at West Chester. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.