EDINBORO, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball was outscored 50-29 over the final 20-minutes as they fell to the host Edinboro University Fighting Scots by a score of 75-59 at McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division action.

Amber Renz and Lauren Lapertosa both dropped early three-pointers to open up an 8-3 lead with 4:15 gone.  Cheniya Sharpe hit a pair at the line cutting the margin to 8-5, but Kori Sidwell scored six of the ensuing dozen points to keep the Lakers in front by three at 14-11 at the 7:39 mark.  Michaela Barnes hit a pair of jumpers for the hosts, but Nicolete Newman twice and Renz hit from deep to give Mercyhurst the 23-15 lead after one. 

Barnes netted the first two points of the second with a pull-up jay, before Lapertosa along with Renz kept the guests ahead 26-17 just over two minutes in.  Emma Elash, Rana Elhusseini, and Sharpe put together a 6-2 run to trim the gap down to 28-23 with 4:11 remaining.  Buckets by Bridgette Shaffer and Lapertosa accounted for the rest of the scoring in the half as the Lakers led 30-25 at the break. 

The two sides exchanged the opening eight points of the third to keep the edge at five 34-29 with less than two minutes gone.  Megan Komendarek and Renz got the lead back to 38-29, before Barnes and Sharpe helped Edinboro get within 40-34 at the halfway point of the quarter.  With Mercyhurst holding a 42-34 advantage, Monica Brown, Barnes, Elash, and Shaffer helped the Fighting Scots end the frame on a 13-5 charge to draw even 47-47 through three. 

Shaffer scored five consecutive points to open the final period to grab a 52-47 edge.  Emily Shopene and Elash both knocked home a pair of free throws, followed by triples from Shaffer along with Shopene keeping the gap at five, 57-52 with 5:32 left.  Barnes then went on a personal tear scoring ten of her team's 13 points during a 13-3 rampage to lead 70-55 with 80-seconds remaining.  Renz and Shopene each hit two on the charity stripe accounting for the Lakers final points of the game as Edinboro saw out the 75-59 final. 

Mercyhurst shot 44.9% from the floor, 33.3% beyond the arc, and 70% (7-10) at the line.  Edinboro was 41.5% in the field, 34.8% from outside, along with 85.2% (23-27) from the charity line.  The Lakers held a 26-24 edge in the paint and a 15-10 advantage off the bench.      

Renz led the team with 18 points, while Shopene notched 12.  Newman and Sidwell combined for 17 points.  Both Komendarek and Lapertosa had six points.  Shopene had a team-high seven boards. 

Barnes and Shaffer paced Edinboro with 26 and 22 respectively.  Sharpe along with Elash netted 10 apiece.  Sharpe completed the double-double grabbing 15 rebounds. 

Postseason Push
Mercyhurst remains tied for the final playoff spot with Seton Hill with two games remaining. 

On Deck - Final Home Game
The Lakers play their final home game of the season on Wednesday, February 26th when they host California (Pa.) in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center at 5:30 pm.