ERIE, Pa. - A quarter that was so good for the Mercyhurst women's basketball was their undoing tonight as Edinboro University outscored the home side 19-8 in the third en route to a 78-61 win on Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division action at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
The game was back and forth early as
Amber Renz picked up five points to nudge the hosts in front by one, 5-4 two minutes in. Edinboro came back netting five of the following eight on buckets by Rana Elhusseini and Michaela Barnes to go in front 9-7. However,
Kori Sidwell,
Vivian Allison, and Renz put together a 5-3 push to reclaim a slim 14-12 edge with 2:30 to go. The away side came back to tie the contest three times, before Renz put home a layup with seven-seconds left to lead 21-19 after one.
The Fighting Scots got off to a quick start in the second as Barnes scored four quick ones to lead 23-21 at the 1:01 mark.
Nicolete Newman,
Lauren Lapertosa,
Emily Shopene, and Sidwell each hit a basket during an 8-2 Lakers charge to just back ahead 29-25. Edinboro stormed back as Elhusseini scored six of the next eight to allow her team to lead by four, 33-29 with 3:55 left. Renz and Sidwell did let things get out of hand organizing a 6-2 push to draw even 35-35. The visitors outpaced Mercyhurst 5-4 the remainder of the half to lead by the slimmest of margins 40-39.
Lapertosa along with Shopene each nailed a jumper to knot the contest 43-43, 3:24 in. Unfortunately, the rest of the frame belonged to Edinboro with Elhusseini scoring eight of the Fighting Scots 16 during a 16-4 rampage to open up a sizable 59-47 advantage after 30-minutes. Newman and Renz provided the only Lakers offense during that stretch.
Barnes picked up 10 of the guests 12 points to start the fourth which began with a 10-0 run to stretch the lead to 70-47. Shopene cashed in the Lakers first two points with a pair at the stripe. With Mercyhurst trailing 76-51 with four minutes remaining,
Meghan Komendarek,
Stephanie Petery,
Rachel Chessar, and Allison led a 10-2 push to close the game. However, it would not be enough as Edinboro secured the victory.
Mercyhurst went 24-57 (42.1%) from the field, 12.5% outside the arc, and 73.3% on the line. Edinboro shot 44% as a unit, they struggled beyond the arc going just 2-14, but were able to recover on the foul line knocking down 24-27. The Lakers dominated off the bench holding a 21-0 edge, and a slim 40-36 lead in paint points.
Renz was the only Laker in double-digits with 19. Sidwell, Lapertosa, and Allison combined for 22 points. Sidwell was the leading rebounder with seven, while Komendarek and Shopene each pulled in five.
Barnes and Elhusseini accounted for 67 of the 78 Fighting Scots points. Led by Barnes with 43. Cheniya Sharpe had a game-high nine boards.
Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday, February 1 when they welcome fifth-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania for a 1pm tip.
