CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 83-75, to #18 West Liberty in the 2014-15 opener Friday night at the Convocation Center for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) versus Mountain East Conference (MEC) Conference Challenge. Sophomore
Natalie Piaggesi led the team in scoring with a career-high 26 points and added two rebounds in 32 minutes of action.
Mercyhurst kept pace with the Hilltoppers throughout the first half, as they kept the West Liberty lead to under ten. The Lakers only held the lead once early in the contest when
Katie Fischer drained a three to open up the scoring. West Liberty would, then, go on a 10-3 run to take control, 10-6, with 14:04 left in the first. The Lakers fought hard to keep it close despite coming into the game with nine players dressed. At the half, the Hilltoppers would have the advantage, 46-38.
West Liberty came out of the lock room still hot from outside the arc, as the Hilltoppers shot 12-24 (50 percent) from three-point range and started a 5-0 surge to begin the second half. The deficit would increase to 22 for Lakers with 12:51 to play; however, Piaggesi's 7-8 and
Angela Heintz's 3-5 shooting from the floor would keep Mercyhurst in the game. The two sophomores combine for 24 of the 37 second half points.
With ten minutes left to play and the Lakers down 20, they began an 8-0 run sparked off by an
Alex Artise layup followed by two Heintz made free-throws. West Liberty would commit a turnover on their next possession, as Heintz would record a steal and pass ahead
Hannah Centea for the made jumper. Piaggesi would finish the scoring spurt with a fast break layup to cut the deficit to 12, 68-56, with 8:33 remaining.
Heintz would, then, go onto score eight quick points in a span of 1:20 to cut the Hilltopper lead to single digits, 74-66. She converted two threes and made a jumper during the stretch.
A late Piaggesi layup with 49 seconds remaining would get Mercyhurst within two possessions but were unable to create the incredible comeback. Mercyhurst and the West Liberty ended the second half each scoring 37 points in the period.
Piaggesi's 26 points is a new career-high, as she scored 22 points in her freshman campaign during the season opener against Findlay. Heintz posted 21 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, recording her first double-double as a Laker.
Junior guard
Adrienne Kloecker scored in double figures, providing 12 points and adding four assists along with teammate Artise, who posted six points and recorded five assists. Kloecker and Artise combined to play 78 minutes. Liz Flowers paced West Liberty with 20 points and six rebounds.
As a team, the Lakers were outrebounded by the Hilltoppers, 33-32. Mercyhurst had 34 points in the paint to West Liberty's 30. The Lakers shot 46.7 percent from the field and hit 13-17 foul shots.
The Lakers will face off against MEC opponent Notre Dame in the second and final game of the Conference Challenge Saturday, November 15. The game is set for a 3:00 p.m. start at the Convocation Center.
