BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball committed a season-high 24 turnovers and shot just 36% from the floor en route to dropping their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game of the season to the host Bloomsburg University Huskies by a final of 60-54 at Nelson Fieldhouse on Friday afternoon.

The Lakers got on the board first just 32-seconds in when Emily Shopene hit on a layup.  After a Megan Brandt free throw cut it to 2-1, buckets for Julia Buchman, Lauren Lapertosa, and Kori Sidwell pushed the advantage to 8-1 with 7:05 left.  Bloomsburg came storming back with a 12-0 run thanks to six from Taylor Montana, four by Meghan Corridoni and two for Emma Saxton to go in front 13-8.  Vivian Allison brought the charge to a halt with a pull-up jay, but was answered by a three from McKenna Hayward to maintain a 16-10 edge with two minutes left.  Shopene and Lapertosa each added two more to end the first 16-14.

Five quick points by Meghan Komendarek pulled the visitors level 19-19 at the 1:16 mark.  However, an 11-0 Huskies push led by Corridoni and Brandt made it 29-19 with 2:26 to play.  Amber Renz and Sidwell each knocked down a pair of free throws to cut it to 29-23, but a Bella Ricci jumper with 22-seconds left brought the margin to 31-23 at the break.  Mercyhurst was plagued in the second by nine turnovers.   

The Lakers began the third strong using a 6-0 run in a 1:57 span on buckets by Buchman, Renz, and Shopene to close within 31-29.  Montana coverted the old-fashioned three-point play for the Huskies first points of the second half.  After Sidwell and Corridoni exchanged baskets to leave the guests down 36-33, Renz, Buchman, and Shopene would all knock down shots from the charity stripe with Shopene giving Mercyhurst their first lead since the opening frame at 37-36 with 5:03 to play.  A Brandt free throw drew the score level again 39-39, and from there Bloomsburg closed on a 7-0 run over the last 2:47 to lead 46-39.

Corridoni and Montana continued the Huskies charge using a 5-0 run to open the advantage out to 52-39 with 6:02 left.  Mercyhurst did not go away as the Buchman, Renz, and Shopene trio put together an 8-0 push to cut the deficit down to 52-47 with just under two remaining.  A three-point play from Ricci and then help by Corridoni stretched the gap back out to double-figures 58-47.  Allison and Shopene combined to get the Lakers to within 58-54 at the 9:50 mark, but it was not enough as the Huskies would see it out 60-54.  

Bloomsburg shot 44.2% from the floor, 55% on the line, and 50% from deep, while Mercyhurst was 36% in the field, 94.4% at the line and 14.3% beyond the arc.  The Huskies outscored the Lakers 34-9 off the bench.  

Renz led the Lakers with 15 and Shopene added 14.  Buchman and Sidwell each chipped in six.  Lapertosa had nine boards to pace the side.

Montana (15), Corridoni (14), and Ricci (12) all posted double-digits for the Huskies.  Corridoni added nine rebounds to lead the team.  

Mercyhurst is right back at it tomorrow evening at 5:30 pm when they visit East Stroudsburg University.