CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team lost a heartbreaker on the road to sixth-ranked California (Pa.), 68-66, on Saturday. The loss marked the Lakers' first road defeat in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action this season.
 
After Cal got the game's first basket, the Lakers got consecutive scores from Jessica Bell to take a 4-2 lead. Mercyhurst held the lead for the remainder of the first quarter. Bell scored again with 38 seconds remaining in the period to give the Lakers a 17-9 lead. Mercyhurst led 19-12 at the end of the quarter.
 
Mercyhurst held on to its advantage for the remainder of the first half. Mercyhurst led by its largest margin of the half at the 8:35 mark after a jump shot from Natalie Piaggesi made the score 23-12. The senior forward scored 14 of her 18 total points in the first half.  
 
Despite trailing by as much as 11 in the first two periods, Cal fought back and ended the second quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the Laker lead to 29-28 at halftime.
 
Mercyhurst responded with an impressive third quarter that saw the Lakers rebuild their advantage to 50-39 after an Alex Artise layup at the 3:12 mark in the third quarter. The Lakers maintained a 53-46 lead at the end of the third quarter.
 
Cal opened the fourth quarter with 16 straight points -- part of a 17-0 second-half run -- and took their first lead since their initial basket of the game on a pair of free throws from Miki Glenn with 7:05 remaining to put the home team ahead, 55-53. Cal eventually pushed its lead to 62-53 with 5:02 remaining.
 
Foul trouble plagued both teams in the final period, but especially the Lakers as Maria Lapertosa, Jalin Steel, and Artise all picked up their fifth fouls midway through the fourth. Despite three key contributors out of the game, Angela Heintz led a Laker charge by scoring eight points in the last quarter. Her made jumper with 1:12 remaining capped an 11-1 run and put the Lakers back into the lead, 64-63.
 
Shatara Parsons responded with a basket to put Cal back into the lead, which was immediately followed by Heintz making one of two free throws to tie the game at 65-all with 43 seconds left. The Lakers forced a turnover on the next Vulcan possession and Piaggesi was fouled with 19 seconds remaining. Piaggesi made one of two free throws to give the Lakers a 66-65 advantage.
 
Glenn missed a jumper on the next Cal possession and the Vulcans fumbled the rebound out of bounds to give the ball back to the Lakers. On the ensuing inbound, the Lakers turned it over to Abbey Sporio who made a layup and was fouled. She made her free throw to put Cal up 68-66 with five seconds left. Heintz's desperation three-pointer at the buzzer fell short, resulting in a two-point win for the Vulcans and giving the Lakers just their second PSAC loss of the season.  
 
Despite holding the Vulcans (18-1, 12-1) to 35.6 percent from the field and pulling down 39 rebounds to Cal's 30, the Lakers were plagued by 31 turnovers that resulted in 33 points for the Vulcans. Heintz and Glenn led all scorers with 21 each. Piaggesi tacked on 18 points with seven rebounds for the Lakers.
 
Mercyhurst (16-3, 11-2) has another tough road test in its next game on Wednesday, Jan. 25, when it travels to Edinboro. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at McComb Fieldhouse.