WHEELING, W. Va. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team defeated Wheeling Jesuit, 72-69, in non-conference action on Monday.
 
Mercyhurst was led by Amber Renz, who scored 20 points, and grabbed five rebounds. Maria Lapertosa recorded 19 points and added seven assists. Vivian Allison added 14 points while Emily Shopene led in rebounds with seven.
 
Monica Burns led Wheeling Jesuit with 21 points, Mariah Callen added 19 points and Chenelle Moore added 16 points.
 
Mercyhurst trailed through the majority of the game, taking the lead only twice. It nabbed its first lead 2-0 on the initial basket but did not lead again until two minutes into the fourth quarter going up 54-52 on a layup from Allison. The Lakers kept a hold of this lead for the remainder of the game, which they stretched to as high as six points. Wheeling Jesuit would led by as much as 12.
 
Wheeling Jesuit would bring the action to 70-69 with 15 seconds remaining in the game, but that was as close as it got. Renz recorded a pair of good free throws with ten seconds remaining to cement the Lakers' victory.
 
Mercyhurst would amass a second half comeback, trailing by nine, when Wheeling Jesuit's Burns landed a three point shot one minute into the third quarter. From this point on the Lakers outscored Wheeling Jesuit, 42-27. At the conclusion of the third quarter Mercyhurst would trail 52-51.  
 
Mercyhurst held an advantage at the glass out rebounding Wheeling Jesuit 41-26. Mercyhurst struggled in turnovers, turning the ball over 17 times compared to the eight surrendered by Wheeling Jesuit.
 
The Lakers will return to action on December 30^th when they host Shippensburg at 1 pm.