Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- Down 15 at halftime, the Mercyhurst women's basketball team rallied to win, 70-67, at Lock Haven Wednesday evening. Four Lakers scored in double figures in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game at Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
After trailing, 45-30, at the break, Mercyhurst played stellar basketball to take the lead on a Dana Banda three-pointer with 7:26 left. Solid foul shooting allowed the Lakers to go ahead, 68-60, with 3:25 to go. Lock Haven was not finished, though. Hannah Gildea hit a three and a layup and then Marrysa Moyer followed with a jumper to make it 68-67 with 1:36 left.
 
After a Laker turnover, the Eagles had possession in the final minute. Alayna White blocked an Emily Daugherty jumper, but the hosts grabbed the loose ball and called timeout. A Gildea three was off, but the Eagles collected another offensive rebound. After another timeout, Daugherty missed and Abby Allen finally corralled the board. The senior calmly sank two free throws with seven seconds remaining. Daugherty's last chance three missed and the Lakers had a road victory.
 
Allen began the second half with a three, but Sami Lane made a jump shot for the home team. Kaylee Foster hit a jumper and Banda scored inside to make it 47-37 with 17:43 to go. The Lakers converted 5-6 foul shots to inch closer. Another Allen trey put the Lakers down three. Banda's triple with 12:34 left got Mercyhurst within 52-50.
 
Gildea hit one of her five threes a minute later, but White made a lay-in and split a pair of free throws. With 8:30 showing on the clock, White pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to make it 56-55.
 
Lock Haven put together a strong start Wednesday. Kelsey Ryan converted a three-point play 36 seconds in, but Adrienne Kloecker came back with a jumper. The Eagles scored 15 straight points to take control. Hannah Gildea's layup with 14:49 to go made it 18-2.
 
Kelsey Trosch slowed the run with a jumper, but Gildea came back with a three-pointer for a 21-4 advantage. Foster scored the next four Laker points and then Kloecker drained a trey to make it 23-13 with 9:59 remaining. Two Foster free throws and a Kloecker triple got Mercyhurst within 23-18 a minute later.
 
Lock Haven regained momentum, though, as Emily Daugherty made a three-point play and then Gildea sank a trey for a 34-20 lead with 4:50 to play. Triples by Lindsey Burke and Banda cut the deficit, but Gildea continued her strong half with another three. The Eagles led, 45-30, at halftime.
 
Foster led with 15 points on 11-12 foul shooting. Banda finished with 13 points, including three treys. She added four assists and three steals. Allen posted 12 points and six rebounds, while White had 11 points and nine boards. Gildea scored 23 points on 9-21 shooting for LHU.
 
As a team, the Lakers made 22-57 (38.6 percent) from the field and the Eagles hit 24-75 (32 percent) of their tries. Mercyhurst was outrebounded, 52-34, but forced 19 Eagle turnovers in the win.
 
Mercyhurst improved to 6-14 overall and 6-10 in the PSAC. Lock Haven fell to 6-14 overall and 3-13 in the league.
 
The Lakers host Slippery Rock on Saturday, February 9. The PSAC Western Division contest will be part of the “Hooping for a Cure” program. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.