ERIE, Pa. - 40-minutes was not enough to determine a winner on Wednesday night as the Mercyhurst women's basketball team dropped a buzzer-beating double overtime heartbreaker to the visiting Mountain Cats of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown by the score of 77-75 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
With 31-seconds remaining in the second overtime Olivia Fasick hit a free throw to give the guests a 75-73 lead. However on the ensuing Mercyhurst possession
Amber Renz found herself in the paint backing down her defender and hitting a layup to draw even 75-75 with 12 ticks to play. Unfortunately, after a UPJ timeout that advanced the ball to the front court a jumper from Fasick came up short, however, Maddie Shanahan crashed the glass and tipped the rock up and in for the 77-75 final.
The Lakers held an early 6-4 edge in the first thanks to triples from
Kori Sidwell and Renz, but a Fasick layup along with a Gabrielle Smith foul shot moved the visitors ahead 7-6 with 5:28 left.
Lauren Lapertosa delivered a layup before Sidwell knocked down a jumper to put the home side in front 10-7. Alli McGrath, Ashley Norling, Fasick and Smith ended the frame on an 8-1 push to lead 15-11 after one.
Mercyhurst turned the tables to begin the second as
Nicolete Newman and Renz put together a 6-1 run to reclaim a slim 17-16 advantage 3:36 into the frame. A foul shot by Norling followed by a jump shot from Newman knotted the game at 21-21 with 3:11 left. Lapertosa and Smith hit matching jumpers to account for the last of the scoring in the half as the two sides went to the locker room deadlocked 23-23.
The Mountain Cats lept into the lead with back-to-back layups by Shanahan and Smith to make it 27-23. A triple from
Julia Buchman along with a bucket for
Meghan Komendarek brought the Lakers back to within 29-28 with 6:25 remaining. Consecutive Norling free throws finished off a 4-2 stretch to extend their advantage to 33-30. Buchman and Newman each hit from beyond to aid an 8-0 home charge to seize a 38-33 lead under four minutes to go. Makalyn Clapper, McGrath, and Norling responded for the Mountain Cats with a 6-0 run to grab a 39-38 edge through three.
Komendarek sent the hosts back ahead netting the first four points of the fourth to lead 42-39, 1:04 into the period. Smith would tie the contest with a layup, before giving the guests the slim 44-42 cushion with six minutes remaining. UPJ continued their charge as McGrath and Fasick led a 6-2 push to grow their advantage to 50-44. Mercyhurst trailed 52-47 with 2:26 left, before they went on a 9-2 rampage thanks to three Newman triples including one with 27-seconds remaining to force overtime at 56-56.
In the first extra session neither side could take control as no one ever took larger than a two-point lead. As an
Emily Shopene layup made it 64-62 with 1:06 left, before Shanahan converted a basket to force a second overtime. Two minutes into the second period layups by Buchman and Shopene had the Lakers up 68-67. Fasick got the visitors back in front 69-68, but a layup and foul shot from Shopene gave the hosts the 71-69 advantage. Unfortunately, UPJ outscored the Lakers 8-4 down the stretch to close the game.
Mercyhurst shot 40.8% from the field, 34.8% outside the arc, and 60% on the foul line. UPJ was 38.4% in the field, 22.2% from beyond, and 70.4% at the charity stripe. The Lakers held a 27-12 edge off the bench, but were outscored 46-40 in the paint.
Newman and Renz had 18 points each, while Buchman joined them in double-figures with 10. Sidwell and Komendarek both added nine. Renz completed the double-double grabbing 11 boards.
McGrath along with Smith each dropped 22 points, followed by 15 from Fasick. Norling and Shanahan combined for 21 rebounds.
Postseason Push
Mercyhurst and Seton Hill are both tied for the final playoff spot at 7-12 in PSAC play. As of right now the Lakers hold the tiebreak by virtue of the split against the Griffins and a win over Cal U.
On Deck - Revenge
The Lakers head out on the road on Saturday when they visit the Fighting Scots of Edinboro University at 1 pm.
