ERIE, Pa. – Behind a game-high 22 points from junior guard Adrienne Kloecker, the Mercyhurst women's basketball team went on to defeat West Virginia Wesleyan, 86-64, in non-conference action.
Early in the first half, a made Bobcat layup from Stacey Remer closed the Mercyhurst lead to one, 8-7. On the next Laker Possession, Jessica Bell would start a 15-2 run over to open the game with layup on the other end. Natalie Piaggesi would follow Bell's lead and convert a layup of her own to extend the lead to five, 12-7. Kloecker and Alex Artise would finish the run draining two three-pointers to put the Lakers up, 23-9, with 11:43 remaining in the first.
Haley Andres would give Mercyhurst its largest lead of the half (17) when she made one of her three three-point field goals to go up, 37-20. Andres would finish the game with a career-high 11 points, and she her three made three-pointers was her highest total as a Laker.
West Virginia Wesleyan would cut the lead to eight with 1:48 left to play in the half, as the Bobcats went on an 11-2 run. However, Mercyhurst would finish the half with a Hannah Centea three-pointer, followed by a Kloecker layup to put the Lakers back in control, 48-35, at halftime.
The Lakers would hold the Bobcats scoreless for the first 3:22 of the second half, opening their largest lead of the night, 55-35. Piaggesi opened the half with a layup and a jump shot, followed by a Kloecker three ball to extend the advantage to 20 with 16:38 to play.
The Bobcats were unable to cut the Mercyhurst lead into single digits in the second half, as they would get as close as 13, until a Centea jumper on the next possession gave the Lakers a chance to cruise their way to their second victory of the season.
Centea finished the game with a career-high ten points on four of five shooting from the field. The game saw four Lakers score in double figures for the second time this year, the other, a win, coming against Tiffin. Artise also came away with a career-high seven assists, as she added seven points. Piaggesi scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists, and had blocked four shots in 32 minutes of action.
Mercyhurst shot 60.3% (35-58) for the game, their highest average of the season and held Wesleyan to 36.5% (27-74).
With the win, Mercyhurst improves their record to 2-7 overall, as the Bobcats fall to 0-7.
The Lakers will resume play Tuesday, December 16, at home against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division foe West Chester. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
