ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team outscored the visiting Golden Eagles of Clarion University 42-22 over the second and third quarters and were aided by 48.3% shooting from the floor as they continued their pursuit of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoff with a 72-65 win over the Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Prior to the game the Lakers honored their five seniors:
Stephanie Petery,
Lauren Lapertosa,
Nicolete Newman,
Kori Sidwell, and
Amber Renz.
Clarion began the game strong scoring the first six points thanks to Yasmin Lewis and Celeste Ryman. Mercyhurst finally hit the scoreboard at the 2:35 mark when Renz took a pass from Lapertosa for a layup. The visitors continued their push with Ke'Airah Massiah, Ryman and Lewis leading a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 12-4 with 5:52 remaining. Two on the line from Ryman opened it up to 16-6, before
Meghan Komendarek and Sidwell netted the following six points to close within 16-12.
Emily Shopene hit the final home basket of the frame from beyond the arc to have it down to 20-15 through one.
The Lakers got even at 22-22 in the first three minutes of the second quarter with a 7-2 charge led by a triple from
Julia Buchman and two-pointers for Komendarek and Sidwell. Neither side took larger than a two-point over the next five minutes as a layup from Newman drew things level again 30-30 with 2:06 remaining. Mercyhurst closed the half on a 6-0 charge finished off by an old-fashioned "three-point play" for Renz at the buzzer to leave the hosts up 36-30.
Three-pointers by both Renz and Buchman extended the Mercyhurst lead to double-digits 42-32 with 1:49 gone. Lewis along with Massiah worked a 5-2 charge to close within 44-37. However,
Vivian Allison, Komendarek, Renz, and Newman put together a 9-1 stampede to give the hosts their largest lead of the game 53-38 at the 6:24 mark. The two sides exchanged the final eight points of the quarter to allow the Lakers to maintain the 15-point cushion, 57-42.
The Golden Eagles tried to claw their way back into the game as Massiah and Ryman scored four quick points to pull the guests to within 57-46. Clarion continued their fight as Massiah made six straight shots on the foul line to trim the gap to 60-52 with 6:17 left. Five from Renz and deuce by Shopene ballooned the Lakers advantage back out to double-digits 67-52. A Renz paint jumper at the 7:13 mark made it 71--57, from there Clarion closed on an 8-1 run but it was not enough as the Lakers held on for the victory.
Mercyhurst shot 48.3% from the field, 33.3% outside the arc, and 66.7% on the line. Clarion went 41.5% in the field, 8.3% from beyond along with 76.9% at the charity stripe. The Lakers held a 22-3 edge off the bench and 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
Renz led the team with 27 points and six boards. Komendarek hit double-figures with 11. Buchman and Shopene combined for 15 points, Sidwell and Newman joined together to chip in 11.
Three Golden Eagles had a team-high 19 points Ryman, Massiah, and Lewis. Lewis completed a double-double securing 10 rebounds.
Mercyhurst returns to action on Wednesday, February 12 when they travel down State Street to take on Gannon University at 5:30 pm.
