ERIE, Pa. --
Amber Renz scored 14 points and earned the Game Changer Award as the Mercyhurst women's basketball team defeated cross-town rival Gannon, 72-66, in a Porreco Pride of Erie matchup at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Wednesday. The game, which was sponsored by Bianchi Honda, was also a PSAC contest.
Emily Shopene added 14 points and
Kori Sidwell finished with 11 points for the Lakers (8-10, 5-6).
Jenna Kunst grabbed nine rebounds.
For Gannon (9-10, 5-7), Chelsea Rourke led the way with 15 points. Nicole LaCava contributed 13 points and six rebounds while Sydney Mitchell compiled 11 points and six assists.
Mercyhurst trailed through much of the first half before going on a 14-4 run to take its first lead at 25-24 with 3:18 left in the first half. The Lakers eventually took a 31-29 advantage into halftime.
After taking a 49-47 lead into the fourth quarter, the Lakers twice led by seven before Gannon used a 10-3 stretch to tie the contest at 59-59. Shopene then put the Lakers ahead for good with a pair of free throws before Renz buried a 3-pointer to widen the gap to 64-59.
Mercyhurst went 8 of 8 from the free-throw line -- four by
Rachel Chessar, two by Sidwell and two by Shopene -- during the final minute to hold off the Golden Knights.
The Lakers will return to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. PSAC contest at California (Pa.).
