ERIE, Pa. - Seniors
Amber Renz and
Kori Sidwell along with sophomore
Julia Buchman all hit double-digits, but it was not enough as the fifth-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks held off the Lakers 73-59 on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play.
Courtney Alexander and Buchman each hit threes early in the first to help the two sides split the opening ten points at 5-5, 2:49 in. IUP opened up a seven-point cushion with a 7-0 run led by four for Rajah Fink to lead 12-5. A triple from
Nicolete Newman and a jay for Sidwell pulled the hosts back to within 12-10. Renz and Buchman provided the Lakers final five points of the frame, but it still left them behind 18-15 after one.
Fink netted four consecutive points to begin the second to push the edge to 23-15. Newman worked her way inside for a layup to stunt the charge, however, the Crimson Hawks responded with five from Maura D'Anna along with a three out of the hands of Natalie Myers to cap a 8-0 run to make it 31-17 with 5:55 remaining. The two teams shared the ensuing eight points with Renz and Newman providing the Mercyhurst offense still leaving the hosts behind 35-21. Unfortunately, IUP scored went on a 6-0 flight to extend the advantage to 41-21. Three foul shots from Renz and a layup for
Lauren Lapertosa brought the Lakers to 41-26 at half.
27-seconds in Lapertosa hit a layup to cut the deficit to 41-28, but a 10-3 run with five coming from Justina Mascaro aided by a triple for Myers pushed the lead back to 51-31 with 5:56 to play. Sidwell looked to spark the home team with a three-pointer, however, Fink and Alexander provided a 7-1 run for the Hawks to maintain the lead. Lapertosa and Renz each hit a jumper to provide the rest of the Lakers offense making it 64-39 through 30-minutes.
Mercyhurst began the fourth strong with Buchman hitting from deep along with layups from Renz and Sidwell to bring the margin back to 66-46 with 2:22 gone. After two foul shots by Mascaro, Renz went on a personal 5-0 sprint to make it 68-51 at the halfway mark. Sidwell hit the final Lakers shot from the floor at the 4:52 mark as
Emily Shopene, Buchman, and Sidwell would each know down two at the stripe to provide the 73-59 final.
The Lakers shot 40.4% from the floor, 33.3% outside the arc, and 93.8% on the line, while the Hawks went 49.1% in the field, 45.5% from beyond along with 77.8% from the charity line. IUP held a 42-26 edge in points in the paint and 22-7 off the bench.
Renz led the team with 22 points, while Sidwell (11) and Buchman (10) joined her in double-digits. Newman, Shopene, and Lapertosa combined for 16 points. Sidwell paced the Lakers with seven rebounds.
Fink had 20 to head the IUP nest, with Mascaro (16), Griggs (11), and Alexander (10) providing a majority of the offense. Myers fell just short of a double-double with nine points and nine boards.
Mercyhurst returns to action on Wednesday when they head to Greensburg, Pa. for a matchup with Seton Hill University at 5:30 pm.
