Johnstown, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team wins its final road game of the season 60-57 on Wednesday night.
 
Three different Lakers were in double digits tonight with Amber Renz leading the Lakers with 17. Eliza Oswalt followed with 13 while Nicolete Newman scored 10. Renz and Oswalt led MU in boards with eight a piece.

In the first, both teams would exchange points until UPJ was able to pull ahead 15-10 with 2:06 to go in the quarter after going on a 5-0 run. Jenna Kunst would end the run with a layup but the Mountain Cats carried a 17-12 lead going into the second quarter.

Right out of the gates in the second, Pitt-Johnstown's Alli McGrath would hit a three to give UPJ an eight point lead. Minutes later, MU would find themselves only down two after made layup by Lauren Lapertosa,  a three pointer by Newman and another layup by Renz  to make the score 21-19 with 5:13 to go in the half. With just over minute left in the half, Renz would score again this time cutting the deficit to one 25-24. Kunst would split her free throws later in the stretch to make the score all knotted up at 25 heading into the half.

Newman would score the first points of the second half giving Mercyhurst (10-17, 7-13) its first lead since the first quarter 27-25. UPJ wouldn't let that stand for long until Oswalt would burry a three with 5:26 to go in the third making the score 33-31 MU. Oswalt would then hit another three a few possessions later giving the Lakers a seven point lead. Pitt-Johnstown would claw its way back making the score 43-40 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, MU would maintain the lead until the 4:45 mark when Mountain Cat's Nicole Olkosky would tie the game. Down the stretch, Kori Sidwell would put the Lakers back up 54-51 with 1:20 remaining. UPJ would make a free throw with just over a minute to go in the game to pull them back to within two. Renz would then hit a key jumper with 33 seconds remaining to extend the Lakers lead to four. Due to a late turnover and foul, UPJ would cut the lead to one, 58-57.

Shopene would make one of two free throws (59-57)  giving  UPJ a final chance to tie with a two or win with a three.  But Renz would have something else in mind, stealing the ball with one second left in the game.  Shopene would then be fouled make the free throw to ice the game and get the road victory, 60-57
 
UPJ lead the game in field goal percentage shooting 40 percent compared to the Lakers 37.5. MU would out-rebound the Mountain Cats 38-35 and would have 18 points of off turnovers compared to UPJ's eight.
 
Next Up: The Lakers will return home in its final game of the regular season as they host Edinboro. To purchase tickets online, Click Here.