ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team scored just 16 points through the opening two quarters and trailed 25-16 at halftime. They played the second half more evenly, but were unable to get over the hump against the visiting Golden Bears of Kutztown University as they fell 59-45 on Saturday afternoon in PSAC Crossover action at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
Kutztown picked up the first four points of the contest with Zoe Zerman and Karen Lapkiewicz providing the offense. Mercyhurst answered back with a 7-0 run as
Amber Renz netted four straight before
Emily Shopene delivered from beyond the arc for the 7-4 edge just over five minutes in. The Lakers struggled to produce offense the remainder of the frame as Rylee Derr, Casey Remolde, and Lapkiewicz produced nine of the final eleven to lead 13-9 after ten minutes.
Vivian Allison and Renz pulled the home side even at 13-13 with a pair of layups 1:05 into the second. A quick 4-0 Golden Bears push made it 17-13, a converted "and one" chance for Renz brought the margin to one, 17-16 with 5:17 to go. Three-pointers out of Gabbi Wright and Derr helped the guests to lead 25-16 at the half.
Derr came out of the break and quickly stretched the advantage to a dozen 28-16 at the 10-second mark, but layups from
Kori Sidwell along with Renz gave the hosts life 28-20. Derr again hit from deep and the lead was up to 13, 33-20. However, two threes by
Nicolete Newman and buckets from
Lauren Lapertosa and Sidwell cut it down to 37-30 still with 3:14 remaining. Lapertosa made it even closer by drilling a trey of her own to bring the gap to 37-33. The three-point shooting continued as Annie Whalen stuck one to have the score 40-33 through three.
Kutztown seized control to begin the fourth as threes for Lapkiewicz and Derr aided a 9-2 charge over the opening 2:50 to lead 49-35. Mercyhurst looked to hang tough with jumpers by
Julia Buchman and Newman coupled with a three from Shopene move the Lakers within ten, 52-42 with four minutes to go. Unfortunately, three points from Renz would not be enough as the Golden Bears scored seven points from the charity stripe to secure the win 59-45.
Neither side shot particularly well from the floor as they were both under 35% percent. KU was 9-20 from deep to Mercyhurst 5-14. The game was decided at the line where the Golden Bears were 16-22 to the Lakers 2-5. Mercyhurst won the battle in the paint 24-12.
Renz led with 16 points, followed in double-digits by Newman and her 11. Lapertosa added seven, while Sidwell and Shopene tacked on 4 and 3. Renz was the leading rebounder with seven. Newman brought in five and Shopene grabbed five.
Derr had a game-high 19 and Lapkiewicz chipped in 17. Remolde matched Renz with seven boards.
Mercyhurst returns to play on Wednesday, January 15 when they visit University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for a 5:30 pm tip.
