Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 71-66, to California (Pa.) Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Five Lakers scored in double figures in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest.
 
A pair of Katie Fischer free throws gave Mercyhurst a 57-55 edge with 5:20 remaining. Elena Antonenko answered with a three-pointer and then a jumper to put the Vulcans ahead, 60-57, with less than five minutes to go. Adrienne Kloecker split two foul shots and then Cal connected on two free throws. A Jessica Bell layup made it 62-60 Vulcans with 3:41 left.
 
Antonenko scored inside and then the visitors hit two free throws to stretch their margin. Natalie Piaggesi came back with a lay-in, but Chelsea McKnight sank a three on the other end, putting Cal up, 69-62, at the 1:44 mark. An Alex Artise triple got the Lakers closer, and the Vulcans missed the front end of a 1-and-1 to keep hope alive. Piaggesi split two free throws with 18 seconds showing on the clock, but Cal connected on two foul shots to seal the win.
 
At the start of the night, Kloecker and Artise both hit jump shots for an early edge. Artise, making her first career start, followed with another bucket for a 6-3 lead after three minutes. The teams traded hoops in the early going until Cal gained a 19-14 lead on a Kaitlynn Fratz layup with 9:26 to go.
 
A Piaggesi layup and Fischer trey got Mercyhurst within 26-23 at the 5:49 mark. An Artise bucket was followed by a Kelley McBroom three-pointer, giving the Lakers a 28-27 edge as time ran down in the period. The Vulcans scored with 15 seconds remaining to head into the locker room with a one-point edge.
 
Bell scored inside to start the second frame and then Alayna White made a lay-in for a 32-31 margin after a minute of action. Bell scored again and then Artise drilled a trey. Jumpers by Piaggesi and Kloecker made it 41-37 with 13:51 showing on the clock. Fischer followed with a jump shot and a triple, as the Lakers took a 46-41 advantage at the 11:26 mark. Artise's trey expanded the lead forty seconds later and then Bell's hoop put the hosts ahead, 51-43, with 9:41 to play.
 
Cal answered with eight straight points to even the score, but Piaggesi sank two foul shots to slow the run. Two McBroom foul shots kept Mercyhurst ahead, setting up the stretch run for the match.
 
Artise scored a career-high 15 points, hitting three three-pointers in 37 minutes. Kloecker and Piaggesi each scored 11 points, with Kloecker adding five rebounds and four assists. Bell, also starting for the first time, tacked on a career-best 10 points and seven boards. Fischer totaled 10 points and five assists. Antonenko paced Cal with 15 points and four rebounds.
 
 As a team, the Lakers shot 42.6 percent (23-54) from the field. The Vulcans converted 48.3 percent (28-58) of their attempts. Mercyhurst had 26 bench points, while Cal scored 35.
 
The Lakers dropped to 1-5 overall and 1-1 PSAC. Cal is now 2-5 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC. Mercyhurst now travels to rival Gannon for a PSAC Western Division game on Saturday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m.