Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost, 70-56, to #3 Gannon Saturday afternoon. Adrienne Kloecker recorded 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest at a packed Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
The game was part of the PSAC's "Hooping for a Cure" program, which raises breast cancer awareness. The Lakers wore special pink uniforms for a crowd of 952 fans Saturday.

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Mercyhurst played a stellar first half, taking a 36-28 lead into the locker room. Gannon rallied in the second half, though, going ahead, 51-45, with 9:21 left. The Lakers were not done yet, however. Kloecker found Alex Artise for a three-pointer to trim the deficit. After a GU free throw, Alayna White banked in a triple to make it 52-51 with 7:32 remaining.
 
White was fouled on the next Laker possession. She split a pair of free throws, tying the game. White grabbed a rebound on the Knights' next trip, with Jessica Bell scoring inside to put Mercyhurst up, 54-52, with 6:25 to play. Gannon evened the score with two foul shots and then took the lead on another free throw.
 
Jen Papich made two free throws and then a layup to put GU up, 59-54, at the 4:44 mark. Nettie Blake made a layup and two foul shots to stretch the lead. Kloecker hit a jumper, but the Lakers could not rally further, as Papich scored twice late.
 
Kloecker shot 7-12 from the floor for 16 points. She grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists in 39 minutes. White posted her ninth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 boards. She also had four assists. Natalie Piaggesi scored eight points, while Artise and Bell had six apiece. Papich paced Gannon with 22 points.
 
Kloecker led the way in the first half, guiding the Lakers to an eight-point lead after twenty minutes. She assisted on a White layup to open the hosts' scoring and then made a steal. She later collected a rebound and then scored in the lane. After GU took an 8-4 advantage, Adele Campbell, one of three Laker seniors recognized before the game, sank a trey.
 
Piaggesi finished a Kloecker pass for a 9-8 edge at the 15:36 mark. Kloecker followed with a pair of free throws. Layups by White and Piaggesi made it 15-10 Lakers with 13:37 showing on the clock. Papich scored, but Kloecker hit Katie Fischer for a triple, expanding the lead to six. Buckets by Bell, White and Kloecker put Mercyhurst ahead, 24-14, with 7:41 to play in the period.
 
Fischer scored inside and then Kloecker did the same, keeping the home team up, 28-19, as time ran down in the half. A pair of Piaggesi jumpers made it an eight-point difference and then Laura McCauley drained a baseline jumper. A Kloecker lay-in as time expired sent the MAC into a frenzy.
 
The Lakers shot 48 percent (24-50) from the floor, while Gannon hit 57.8 percent (26-45) of its tries.
 
Mercyhurst is 6-15 overall and 4-7 in the conference. GU is 22-1 overall and 11-1 in the PSAC. The Lakers host Slippery Rock in another Western Division game on Wednesday, February 12, at the MAC.