Box Score

CHEYNEY, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team won, 79-65, at Cheyney Saturday afternoon. Adrienne Kloecker scored a career-high 26 points in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover at Cope Hall.

The Lakers jumped out to an early 19-8 lead after a Jessica Bell three-pointer with 11:35 left in the first half. Cheyney fought back, though, pulling within two at 31-29 with 4:39 remaining in the frame. Kloecker regained control for the Lakers, sparking a 10-4 run to close the half. The sophomore hit a trey at the 3:13 mark and then Laura McCauley found Kloecker for another triple less than a minute later. Mariah Penascino made a steal and then Natalie Piaggesi scored inside to stretch the lead. After a Cheyney hoop, Kloecker sank a jumper with 1:12 to go in the period. The Wolves scored to end the half, but Mercyhurst held a 41-33 advantage going into the locker room.

Kloecker continued her stellar play in the second half, scoring seven straight points to blow the game open. Her layup 52 seconds into period made it a 10-point game and then she grabbed a rebound and drained a jump shot with 18:29 left. Katie Fischer followed with an assist to Kloecker, who drilled a three-pointer for a 48-33 lead, forcing a Cheyney timeout with 17:19 to play.

The hosts closed the gap to eight points a few minutes later, but jumpers by Fischer, Bell, and Kloecker made it 56-42 with 12:22 showing on the clock. The Wolves continued to compete, cutting their deficit to 62-56, but Alayna White connected from long range and then Penascino finished a three-point play at the 4:15 mark, giving the Lakers a 68-56 margin. Mercyhurst closed the contest with 7-8 accuracy at the foul line.

The Wolves opened the scoring to start the game, but Alex Artise hit two free throws to start a 10-0 spurt. Kloecker found White for a jumper and then White assisted on a Kloecker trey at the 17:28 mark. White then found Artise for a three and a 10-2 advantage. Bell's triple a few minutes later made it an 11-point difference, before Cheyney rallied.

Kloecker shot 10-16 from the field, including 4-6 from downtown. Her 26 points are the most by a Laker this season. White finished 6-6 from the floor and 2-2 at the free throw line, totaling 15 points and eight rebounds. Bell recorded nine points and eight boards, while Kelley McBroom chipped in with six points and four rebounds in six minutes of action. Four Wolves scored in double figures, led by Lachelle Miller with 17 points.

Mercyhurst hit 27-52 (a season-high 51.9 percent) of its field goal attempts. It contained Cheyney to 19-57 (33.3 percent) accuracy. The Lakers also had another strong day on the glass, outrebounding the Wolves, 39-29.

Mercyhurst improved to 3-9 this season. It hosts Millersville on Wednesday, January 8, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.