SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team fell, 74-72, in overtime during its season opener against Notre Dame (Ohio) in non-conference action on Saturday night.
Notre Dame's Katie Karalic made a go-ahead layup with four seconds left in overtime and that basket held as the game-winner for the host Falcons.
Maria Lapertosa led Mercyhurst (0-1) with 27 points and recorded 11 rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
Amber Renz contributed 17 points and three assists. Renz was 6-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.
Emily Shopene added eight points and three assists.
Marisa Finazzo led Notre Dame (1-0) as she contributed 21 points, five assists and five rebounds. Seina Adachi had 18 points while Katie Karalic added 13. Karalic and Finazzo contributed seven and six steals, respectively.
Mercyhurst took an initial 4-0 lead and held that lead through the first half as it took a 30-23 advantage into halftime. The Lakers had led by as many as 11 points in the first half.
Notre Dame then outscored Mercyhurst during the third quarter, drawing the action as close as 43-37.
Mercyhurst continued to have its lead chipped away during the fourth quarter until Notre Dame eventually knotted the action at 56-56. The Falcons took a 62-59 lead with seven seconds remaining in regulation before Lapertosa hit a buzzer-beating three point shot, tying the action at 62-all and forcing the overtime period.
Mercyhurst took the initial lead in overtime with two good free throws from Renz and then pushed the lead to 67-62 before Notre Dame scored five consecutive points to create a 67-67 deadlock.
The Lakers made 5 of 6 free throws in the 90 seconds -- three points by
Kori Sidwell and two from Lapertosa -- and held a 72-69 advantage before a game-tying 3-pointer by Marisa Finazzo with 15 seconds left. Then, after a Mercyhurst turnover, Karalic made her game winner.
Mercyhurst will return to action Sunday against West Liberty to finish competition in the PSAC vs. MEC Challenge at 2 pm.
