Box Score

JOHNSTOWN, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team fell, 67-62, at Pitt-Johnstown Saturday afternoon. Mariah Penascino and Alayna White each posted double-doubles in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest.
 
After falling behind 14-0 to start the game, the Lakers made their move to get back into the match. They rallied with a 25-11 run to even the score with 2:36 remaining in the half.
 
White grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to get things started. The Lakers made a defensive stop and then White made a layup while being fouled. She converted the free throw, making it 14-5. Katie Fischer followed with a steal and Kloecker sank a pair of foul shots to cut the deficit again. UPJ scored on its next trip, but Fischer found White for another hoop inside, pulling with 16-9 at the 11:40 mark.
 
The Lady Cats scored, but Penascino answered with an offensive board and a lay-in. Eventually, the hosts would go ahead, 25-14, with 6:19 to play in the period. Mercyhurst would respond with a 10-0 spurt. Kloecker and White each split two foul shots and then Penascino hit Alex Artise for a three-pointer. Another Kloecker free throw made it 25-20 at the 4:11 mark. Natalie Piaggesi made a layup and Penascino connected on 1-2 foul shots to shrink the margin further. A Fischer jumper tied the game at 25 with 2:36 to play. UPJ ended the half on a 6-1 rally, taking a 31-26 advantage into the break.
 
Two White hoops kept the Lakers close early in the second period. Penascino then scored, making it 39-33 with 15:57 left. Mercyhurst did not make another field goal until the 8:54 mark, when Kloecker drained a trey to get within seven points. Pitt-Johnstown quickly answered with five straight points to regain control.
 
Buckets by Penascino and Kloecker allowed the visitors to hang around. Artise led a final charge, making a free throw and then a triple to cut the deficit to 64-57 with 3:09 to go. White's putback made it a six-point difference in the last 90 seconds, but foul shots by UPJ sealed the outcome.
 
White recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Penascino tallied 15 points and a career-high 13 boards. She hit 9-10 free throws. Kloecker added 12 points and five rebounds, while Artise hit two three-pointers on her way to seven points. Jasmine Harper and Kelsey Sleighter each scored 13 points to lead the Lady Cats.
 
Mercyhurst dominated the glass, outrebounding UPJ, 48-30, including an 18-2 advantage on the offensive boards. White and Penascino each had five offensive rebounds. The Lakers shot 25-37 from the foul line. Both the makes and attempts at the charity stripe marked season highs.

The Lakers dropped to 6-12 overall and 4-4 in the PSAC. UPJ is 7-11 overall and 4-4 in the conference. Mercyhurst travels to Seton Hill for another Western Division game on Wednesday, January 29.