JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team was victimized by fouls and points in the paint as the host University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown went 26-31 at the line to the Lakers 12-13, while holding a 44-24 edge in points in the paint en route to the 76-69 setback at the Sports Center on Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.
It took 1:26 into the game before the first points were scored when
Nicolete Newman knocked down a pair on the line. One minute later Pitt-Johnstown earned their opening basket as Gabrielle Smith converted a layup and an "and one" opportunity to get the hosts in front 3-2. Mercyhurst went behind by three on two occassions when Mia Oterson and Smith made it 5-2 and 7-4 with 6:11 left in the first. Two at the stripe from
Emily Shopene cut the deficit to 7-6, but Olivia Fasick hit a three to extend the UPJ edge to 10-6. A 5-0 Lakers push finished off with a Shopene triple moved the guest on top 11-10. Ashley Norling and Makalyn Clapper put together a 6-0 charge to lead by five 16-11.
Jenna Kunst got the final bucket of the frame to cut it to 16-13.
The Mountain Cats began the second with a 4-0 run, but were answered by baskets for
Meghan Komendarek and
Kori Sidwell with a 4-0 push to make it 20-17 at the 2:26 mark.
Amber Renz and Komendarek combined for the next six Mercyhurst points, but it still kept them down four, 27-23. Out of the media timeout UPJ tried to put more distance between the two teams as Smith, Fasick, and Oterson worked a 5-2 stretch to make it 32-25 with 3:00 to play. Alli McGrath would open the advantage to double-digits 38-27 with two at the line, but a buzzer-beating jumper from Renz trimmed the margin to 38-29 at half.
Mercyhurst scored six of the first ten points in the third on baskets from
Lauren Lapertosa and Sidwell to cut the deficit by two down to 42-35 with 2:46 gone. Newman drilled a three-pointer to bring the Lakers the closest they had been in awhile at 42-38, but four consecutive foul shots for Smith opened the lead back to eight 46-38 with 6:17 left. With the visitors down 48-40, the Lakers got a three for
Julia Buchman and a rebound-putback from Renz to get it to 48-45 at the media timeout. Mercyhurst continued to chip away and made it 51-50 UPJ on a three from the right-wing by Shopene, however, they never got over the hump as the Mountain Cats led 54-52 after 30-minutes.
Pitt-Johnstown got five straight from Fasick to push the gap to seven 59-52, before Newman hit two at the line to close within 59-54, 80-seconds in. After a Smith layup got the Mountain Cats up 63-54 the Lakers responded with five straight thanks to a three from Newman and transition layup by Lapertosa forced a UPJ timeout with the score 63-59 with 6:19 to play. The home side continued to feel pressure from the guests with just under two-minutes to go when Buchman knocked home a triple to make it 72-69, unfortunately, Mercyhurst got no closer as UPJ closed out the 76-69 win.
Mercyhurst shot 42.4% from the floor, 36.8% outside the arc, and 92.3% at the line, while Pitt-Johnstown went 44.4% in the field, 18.25 from deep, along with 83.9% on the charity stripe. The Lakers held a 41-26 advantage on the glass and an 18-11 edge in second chance points.
Renz posted a double-double with 18 points and a dozen rebounds. Newman (13) and Shopene (10) also hit double-figures. Sidwell added eight, while Buchman and Komendarek chipped in six each. Outside of Renz, Lapertosa was the leading rebounder with six.
Smith had a game-high 28 points to go along with five boards. Fasick finished with 17, followed by McGrath with eight and Clapper with seven. Norling was their top player on the glass with seven rebounds.
Mercyhurst returns to play on Saturday, January 18 when they host crosstown rival Gannon in the first Porreco Pride of Erie Cup Game of the season at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center with tip set for 5:30 pm.
