ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team defeated Millersville, 65-61, on Sunday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action.
The Lakers (2-2, 2-0) were led by
Amber Renz, who recorded a game high of 27 points as she shot 9-for-15 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and went perfect from the free-throw line, going 6-for-6. Renz also led the rebound category for Mercyhurst, grabbing 10.
Stephanie Petery and
Maria Lapertosa added 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Lakers.
Millersville was led by Alayah Hall, who recorded 17 points, while Kendra Bamberger contributed 15 points and Jade Farquhar added 14 points.
The Lakers trailed by as many as five points in the opening half before a half-ending 8-0 run -- with all eight points coming from Renz -- enabled Mercyhurst to take a 29-26 lead into halftime. Renz buried a three-pointer as time expired.
The Lakers pushed toward their biggest lead, going up 35-28 in the third quarter, before Millersville came back to the tie the contest at 45-all at the end of the third.
Farquhar made a three-pointer in the fourth, putting the Marauders ahead 48-45, before Renz answered again for the Lakers. Renz went on a personal 7-0 run, hitting a go-ahead three-pointer in the midst of that streak. After that, Millersville twice pulled within one point, but Mercyhurst held off the charge.
In the final 90 seconds, the Lakers went 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. With a 63-61 lead and 10 seconds on the clock, Mercyhurst made one final stop before two Lapertosa free throws iced the game.
Mercyhurst held an advantage at the glass pulling down 35, while Millersville only claimed 30. The Lakers also outshot Millersville in the field, in three point land, and at the free throw line. Mercyhurst went 20-for-46 (43.5%) from the field, 9-24 (37.5%) from three point land and 16-for-19 from the free throw line. Millersville shot 24-for-59 (40.7%) from the field, 2-for-14 (14.3%) from beyond the arc, and 11-for-19 (57.9%) from the free throw line.
The Lakers will compete next on Wednesday when they host non-conference Ursuline at 2 p.m. in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
