Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 78-73, at West Chester Friday afternoon. Alayna White scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover at Hollinger Fieldhouse.
 
Mercyhurst started the game strongly, going ahead, 8-0. Alex Artise made two free throws and then Adrienne Kloecker and Jessica Bell each hit three-pointers to make it 8-0 after 2:20 of play.
 
West Chester responded quickly, taking an 11-9 edge with 14:08 remaining in the period. A Brittany Sicinski three-point play made it 19-11 at the 10:41 mark. Buckets by Kloecker and White kept the Lakers close, but the Rams maintained a comfortable margin until late in the half.
 
Down 31-23 with under three minutes to go, Kloecker sank a jumper. White followed with a lay-in and a jump shot, pulling with 31-29 with 26 seconds showing on the clock. The hosts scored late to close the frame with a 33-29 advantage.
 
Kloecker hit a three a minute into the second half, making it 35-32. Hoops by White and Katie Fischer kept the deficit at three points. West Chester took a 46-38 lead with 13:47 remaining, but Natalie Piaggesi made a layup. She followed with two foul shots, but Sicinski hit a three. Kloecker answered with a trey of her own and then Artise drained a triple to put Mercyhurst down, 49-48, at the 11:08 mark.
 
The hosts came back with eight straight points to regain control. A pair of Piaggesi jumpers allowed the Lakers to hang around. White finished a three-point play with 5:22 remaining, making it 61-55.
 
The Rams answered with a 5-0 spurt, but three-point plays by Piaggesi and White gave the Lakers hope. West Chester converted four straight free throws in the final minute to close out the contest, however.
 
White shot 10-17 from the floor, putting up a personal-best 24 points. She pulled down 13 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. It marks White's fourth double-double this season and fifth in her two seasons at Mercyhurst. She also tallied a career-high five steals. Kloecker recorded 20 points and seven boards. Piaggesi added 15 points, hitting all seven of her free throw tries. Dallas Ely led the home team with 25 points.
 
The Lakers shot 44.3 percent (27-61) from the field and held the Rams to 39.7 percent (25-63) accuracy.
 
The Lakers dropped to 2-9, while West Chester moved to 9-3. Mercyhurst plays at Cheyney tomorrow. The crossover contest is slated for a 1 p.m. start.