ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will conclude the 2014-15 regular season Saturday afternoon at Seton Hill. Tipoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Sullivan Gymnasium in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The Lakers (9-18, 6-15 PSAC) are entering Saturday off a loss, 77-70, at Pitt-Johnstown, while Seton Hill (11-15, 7-13 PSAC) are also coming off a loss at #18 California (Pa.), 73-54.
Live stats and video will be available for you to follow along during the game at the link provided.
Live Stats.
Video.
After a late start to Wednesday's game due to weather conditions, Mercyhurst came off the bus cold, shooting only 33.3% (12-36) from the field in the first half, while the Mountain Cats went 14-of-27 (51.9%) from the field and took a seven point lead into the break. The Lakers would improve their shooting woes in the second half but could not pull of the comeback.
Angela Heintz led the team in scoring with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting and she also pulled down eight rebounds.
Jessica Bell and
Natalie Piaggesi also reached double figures, posting 12 and 11 respectively.
Seton Hill enters Saturday losing two straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division road games.
This is the second meeting this season between the teams. Despite Piaggesi's double-double performance of 11 points and 11 rebounds, Mercyhurst lost a close battle January 21 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center (MAC), 70-68.
Adrienne Kloecker also recorded a game-high 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Seton Hill's Mariah Wells tied the game with a three with less than a minute to play and then got a steal and a lay in for the winning basket with less than 30 seconds to play.
Piaggesi leads the Lakers in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds. She has recorded eight doubles-doubles and one triple-double thus far this season. Piaggesi is one of 11 who has accomplished the feat. Last week, she averaged 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 blocked shots in a week that saw the Lakers split a pair of PSAC West contests.
Kloecker also adds 11.7 points per game, while Artise provides 7.9 points per contest and 4.6 rebounds – second highest on the team for the Lakers. She is coming off tying her career-high in rebounds Wednesday, grabbing a team-high 10.
Kelly Brennan Paces the Griffins averaging 10.2 points per game, while Meghan Mastroianni also averages double-digits, scoring 10.1 ppg. Forward Chelsea Apke does the dirty work inside, leading the team in rebounding, grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. Seton Hill averages 68.4 points per contest and is second in the PSAC in steals, averaging 10.96. Apke leads the team in that category, coming away with 1.8 a game.
Mercyhurst trails the Griffins, who are currently fifth in the PSAC West, by a game and a half. The Lakers will need a win Saturday and receive some help along the way to move up into the sixth spot for the final PSAC Tournament bid.
