Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team won, 66-49, over Clarion Wednesday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Adrienne Kloecker scored 23 points on just 12 shots as the Lakers took the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest.
 
Mercyhurst allowed a season-low 49 points. It also recorded season highs in assists (18), steals (10), and made threes (10). The Lakers harassed the visitors into 28.6 percent field goal shooting, also the best mark of the season.

 
Yet again, Kloecker got things started for Mercyhurst. She hit a jumper on the Lakers' first possession. After pulling down a rebound, she sank another short jump shot for a 4-0 lead. Clarion got on the board next, but Mariah Penascino found Alex Artise for a three-pointer. On the Lakers' next trip, Penascino hit Kloecker for a trey and an early 10-2 advantage. The Golden Eagles called time after just three minutes of play.
 
A Natalie Piaggesi basket gave the home team a 13-4 lead with 14:36 remaining in the half. She followed with another jumper a few minutes later. Artise's second triple made it 19-6 at the 11:11 mark. Piaggesi followed with a teal and eventually scored on a nice lob from Alayna White. White found Penascino for a three and a 24-8 margin with 9:04 to go in the frame.
 
Kloecker came up with a steal and then connected on a jumper. She then assisted on a Piaggesi bucket, stretching the lead to 28-12. Penascino found Kloecker open again, with the sophomore splashing another trey for a 31-14 advantage at the 5:49 mark. A White layup in the last minute gave the hosts a 33-24 lead at the break.
 
Mercyhurst did not settle for one strong half of play, though. Artise drained another triple and Kelley McBroom scored inside for a 40-27 margin. After a Hannah Heeter basket, the Lakers took off on a 14-0 run that cemented the decision.
 
McBroom made a pair of lay-ins to get the ball rolling. Artise followed with two foul shots and then Penascino hit Kloecker for another three-pointer. Less than thirty seconds later, the duo teamed up again, with Kloecker nailing her fourth triple of the day. McBroom scored again and then Artise capped the spurt with two more free throws. After a Clarion bucket finally stopped the damage, Penascino scored for a 58-29 lead with 8:45 remaining. Down the stretch, Kloecker connected on another three and Adele Campbell made a trey of her own.
 
Kloecker continued her run of remarkable play Wednesday. The Erie native scored 23 points on 8-12 shooting. She hit 5-6 three-pointers and all four of her free throw attempts. She added three assists, three rebounds, and two steals. In her last seven games, the sophomore is averaging 21.8 points per game and shooting 46 percent on her three-point tries. Kloecker is the first Laker in at least 16 seasons to score 18 or more points in seven consecutive outings.
 
On Wednesday, Artise tallied 15 points, hitting three treys. Piaggesi added nine points on 4-4 shooting. She grabbed five rebounds. McBroom played a season-high 19 minutes, shooting 4-5 for eight points, while pulling down a career-high eight boards. Penascino and Fischer each dished out six assists, while White totaled eight rebounds. Heeter paced Clarion with 18 points and 17 boards.
 
Mercyhurst is 6-11 overall and 4-3 in the PSAC. Clarion fell to 7-10 overall and 1-6 in the conference. The Lakers open a three-game road trip at Pitt-Johnstown Saturday.