GREENSBURG, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball was embroiled in a game two completely different halves as they trailed 39-25 at halftime, before outscoring the host Seton Hill Griffins 45-25 in the second half to rally back to stay in the playoff hunt knocking off the Griffins 70-64 on Wednesday night at the McKenna Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division action. 

Seton Hill got off to the quick start with Katie Nolan and Sydney Rabold each notching three points to give the hosts a 6-0 lead three minutes in.  Amber Renz, Lauren Lapertosa, and Nicolete Newman closed the gap to 6-5, before Lexi Civittolo and Tiana Stewart netted the next six to open up a seven-point advantage 12-5, 5:54 in.  With 1:57 remaining Civittolo pushed to edge over double-digits at 16-5, but layups from Vivian Allison and Renz made it 16-9 after one.

Lapertosa and Nolan traded baskets to begin the second leaving the Griffins ahead 18-11, with 9:32 to go.  A minute later Julia Buchman hit a layup bringing the margin to 18-13, unfortunately, Nolan scored the ensuing five points to reclaim the ten-point cushion 23-13.  The two sides exchanged the next eight points to lead 27-17 at the halfway point.  Megan Komendarek and Renz each earned points in the paint cutting the deficit to 28-23 with 3:18 remaining.  Seton Hill closed the half with an 11-2 charge finished off with a Madelyn Fischer triple to lead 39-25.       

The Lakers had the fast start to begin the third with Emily Shopene and Renz converting on layups in the opening minute to trim the hosts leadd to 39-29.  After a foul by Nolan, Renz knocked down two on the line to get the deficit under double-digits at 40-31 with 8:55 left.  Nolan led a 5-3 push to reestablish an 11-point edge 45-34.  Mercyhurst responded with a 12-2 rampage led by six from Sidwell to bring the visitors to within one, 47-46 at the 6:30 mark.  Civittolo hit a pair of foul shots to bump the edge back to 49-46, however, that would be short-lived as Renz knocked down a three to bring Mercyhurst all the back to tied at 49.  Nolan backed her way into the paint for a layup to get the lead back, and a last ditch attempt from half-court by Newman came up just short to leave the Lakers down 51-49 through three. 

Nolan opened the advantage to 53-49 with two at the line, before Renz picked up five consecutive points to grab their first lead of the game 54-53 with 8:21 remaining.  A turnover from Cheyenne Trest resulted in a triple by Shopene off a dish from Renz to bump the edge to 57-53 prompting a Seton Hill timeout.  A layup by Nolan at the 2:42 mark was the last basket for a 4:31 stretch when Civittolo ended it with a layup knotting the score 57-57.  Shopene gave the Lakers the lead right back with a three-pointer, followed by two at the stripe from Newman to make it 62-57 with 1:15 remaining.  A 7-4 push by the Griffins finished off by a converted "and one" for Trest cut the Lakers advantage to 66-64 with 18-seconds left.  Nolan missed a layup opportunity underneath, and Renz hit two at the line to salt the game away 70-64.  

Mercyhurst shot 48.2% from the floor, 38.5% beyond the arc, and 91.7% on the line.  Seton Hill was limited to 39.2% in the field, 27.8% from deep, and 79.2% at the charity stripe.  The Lakers held a 36-28 edge in rebounding and a 34-28 advantage in the paint.  

Renz continues to lead the Lakers offensively matching a career-high 29 points to go along with eight boards.  Shopene joined her in double-digits with 12.  Komendarek, Lapertosa, and Sidwell combined for 21 points.  Sidwell was the leading rebounder grabbing 10.  

Nolan paced the Griffins with 24, followed by Civittolo who dropped 15.  

Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday for a 1pm tip at home when they welcome the Golden Eagles of Clarion University for Senior Day.