ERIE, Pa. – Behind a career-high 34 points from sophomore
Natalie Piaggesi, the Mercyhurst women's basketball team went on to defeat Pitt-Johnstown, 87-72, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.
After coming off a nine point performance Wednesday at Clarion, only her third single digit scoring output of the season, the forward from Bethel Park, Pa. put up a game-high 34 points to lead the Lakers to their fourth consecutive victory. Piaggesi also added seven rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots, and two steals. She shot 12-18 from the floor and went 10-11 from the free-throw line.
Pitt-Johnstown would lead by as many as eight in the first half, until Mercyhurst went on a 11-0 run over an eight minute span to take the lead, 21-16, with 7:25 to play in the half.
Jessica Bell tied the game at 16 with one of her three first half field goals. Piaggesi would give the Lakers their first lead of the game off a layup in the paint.
The Mountain Cats would keep the game close by matching Mercyhurst basket-for-basket down the stretch. The Lakers would take a two point lead into the break, 31-29.
Bell would start things off for the offense in the second half, converting a layup in the paint on the first possession. Pitt-Johnstown would answer with a finish inside before the Lakers went on a 5-0 spurt to take their largest lead of the game. A bell free-throw started the spurt, followed by a Piaggesi layup and an
Adrienne Kloecker jumper to take a 38-31 advantage.
With Mercyhurst leading, 64-54, at the 7:44 mark, Pitt-Johnstown would cut the lead to two, 66-64. After the Mountain Cats 10-2 run, the Lakers responded with a 9-2 run of their own, to increase their lead back to nine, 77-68, with 2:09 to play. Pitt-Johnstown would go into foul mode to slow the game down, but Mercyhurst drained eight of 10 free-throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Five Lakers finished the game scoring in double digits. As a team, they shot 56.4% (31-55) from the field and out-rebounded Pitt-Johnstown, 30-28.
Mercyhurst improves to 7-11 overall and 5-8 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. Pitt-Johnstown falls to 9-7, 6-6 PSAC.
The Lakers will be back in action Wednesday, January 21, against Seton Hill. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
