Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team beat #20 Indiana (Pa.), 73-64, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game Saturday. Adrienne Kloecker scored 23 points, including 17 in the first half, as the Lakers beat a ranked opponent for the first time since February 22, 2012.
 
Mercyhurst played its best game of the season Saturday, riding an outstanding first half to victory. In the first twenty minutes, the Lakers shot 17-30 (56.7 percent) from the floor, including a scorching 6-11 (54.5) from downtown. Mercyhurst led, 46-37, at the break, matching its season high for points in a single half.
 
The win was the Lakers' first over IUP in 13 tries, dating back to December 10, 1996. It was also Mercyhurst's first victory over a ranked foe since the end of the 2011-12 campaign, when it upset #2 Edinboro, 59-58 in overtime.
 
Entering the game, Indiana led the PSAC in rebounding margin, grabbing 9.7 more rebounds than its opponents per game. Mercyhurst was second in the category with a plus-7.3 margin. On Saturday, the Lakers dominated the boards, owning a 42-26 advantage, including a 16-7 difference on the offensive glass.
 
Alayna White opened the game with a jumper in the lane. After Katie Fischer split two foul shots, White scored inside for a 5-2 lead with 17:40 left in the half. Jessica Bell hit two free throws and then Kloecker split a pair for an 8-6 edge. Layups by Natalie Piaggesi gave the hosts a 12-11 lead after 5:49 of play. Mercyhurst would take off from there.
 
Piaggesi made a steal and Kloecker finished inside. After an Indiana hoop, White found Piaggesi for a jump shot. Marita Mathe answered with a three-pointer for IUP, but Kloecker responded with a trey of her own, giving the Lakers a 19-16 advantage with 12:36 remaining. Kloecker followed with another triple and then Bell made a layup for an eight-point margin.
 
After a Crimson Hawk bucket, Kloecker grabbed a rebound and eventually drained another three. The Lakers forced a miss and White pulled down the board, setting up a Fischer trey for a 30-18 lead with 7:50 to play in the frame. The 14-2 run forced IUP to call timeout.
 
Ashley Stoner scored for the Hawks, but after each team came up empty, White stole the ball and Alex Artise sank a three-pointer to expand the margin to 33-20 with 5:50 to go. Layups by Mariah Penascino and White made it 37-23 as the Lakers continued to attack.
 
Kloecker was fouled and hit two free throws. She then assisted on a Kelley McBroom lay-in for a 41-27 lead at the 2:29 mark. After an IUP three, White scored inside and then Kloecker buried another trey, putting the home team up, 46-30. The Hawks closed the half with seven straight points to make it a single-digit margin at the break.
 
Mercyhurst struggled to match its first-half production early in the second frame, as IUP tried to rally. An Artise triple was followed by a Piaggesi jumper for a 53-40 lead with 15:13 remaining. The visitors came back with 10 consecutive points, pulling within 53-50 at the 12:50 mark.
 
White grabbed an offensive rebound on the Lakers' next possession. She missed the initial layup attempt, but pulled down the board again and scored for a five-point difference. The senior split two foul shots a few minutes later for a 56-50 lead. Fischer and Bell teamed up to go 6-6 at the foul line to keep IUP at bay. A Hawk hoop made it 64-56 with 3:59 showing on the clock.
 
White answered with a layup. Two possessions, she scored again for a ten-point lead with 2:16 to play. Kloecker and White sealed the decision at the free throw line as time ran down.
 
Eight different Lakers scored, led by Kloecker with 23 points. The sophomore is averaging 21.7 points per game in her last four outings. On Saturday, the Erie native hit four three-pointers in the first half and went 7-8 at the line for the day. She added five boards and four assists. White posted her sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds. She also dished out a career-high four assists.
 
Artise grabbed a personal-best 10 rebounds, adding a pair of treys for six points. Fischer registered eight points, while Bell totaled six points and seven rebounds. Piaggesi scored eight points. Mathe paced Indiana with 15 points.
 
The Lakers shot 44.2 percent (23-52) from the field, while IUP shot 42.6 percent (23-54) on its tries. The Hawks shot 29.6 percent (8-27) in the second half. Mercyhurst finished 20-28 at the foul line.
 
Coach Deanna Richard's squad improved to 4-10 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC. IUP dropped to 11-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Lakers host Edinboro on Wednesday, January 15, in another Western Division game at the MAC.