Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team made #2 Gannon work for a 69-57 win on Saturday at the Hammermill Center. Alayna White led with 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lakers in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game.

A 9-0 Mercyhurst run gave the Lakers a 27-26 edge with 2:35 left in the first half. An Adrienne Kloecker and-1 made it 30-27 in the final minute of the frame, but Gannon hit two three-pointers to take a 33-30 halftime advantage.

In the second half, the Lady Knights went ahead, 50-43, with 13:04 remaining. Alex Artise sparked a Laker rally with an offensive rebound and a layup. After a GU turnover, White scored inside and then Kloecker made a lay-in, pulling Mercyhurst within 50-49 with 10:19 showing on the clock. Gannon hit a three, but Artise answered with a trey of her own at the 6:21 mark. A Natalie Piaggesi free throw made it 55-53 Gannon with 5:33 to go, but the Knights slowly pulled away as time ran out.

White scored the Lakers' first six points, but a Gannon three made it 6-all after 3:25 of play. The hosts held a slim margin until Mercyhurst made its move. White made a layup and then converted a pair of foul shots. An Artise triple made it 26-25 GU with 3:03 left in the period. White's layup 29 seconds later gave the Lakers their first lead since the early going. 

White hit 8-14 field goals on her way to 19 points. She grabbed eight rebounds, two steals and blocked a shot in 25 minutes. Artise recorded 13 points and eight boards, hitting three treys. Kloecker added 12 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Nettie Blake paced GU with 19 points and 12 boards.

Mercyhurst shot 21-52 (40.4 percent) and held Gannon to 22-66 (33.3 percent) field goal shooting. 

Mercyhurst dropped to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC. Gannon is now 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference. The Lakers host Lock Haven on Tuesday, December 17, in the their next outing.