ERIE, Pa. - Junior Julia Buchman dropped 14 points, while senior Emily Shopene added a dozen more but it was not enough to push the Lakers past No. 23 Gannon University on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center as the visitors earned the 68-44 victory.

Things started well for Mercyhurst as Nicolette Arnold converted a feed from Shopene for the early 2-0 lead just 13-seconds in.  Emily Poling then cashed in off a miss by Tori Obenrader drawing even 2-2, 21 ticks later.  Poling made it 5-2 at the 8:51 mark, before the well ran dry for both sides for the next 2:46 seconds when Emma Wright pushed it to 7-2.  The Lady Knights continued to stretch their advantage ending the frame on a 9-5 push to lead 16-7.  Buchman and Shopene supplied the remainder of the Lakers offense.  

Both teams picked up three points through the opening 4:18 of the second, with Paige Woodford and Arnold recording buckets.  The visitors grabbed four consecutive points at the line with Sydney Mitchell and Margo Loutzenhiser each knocking down a pair making it 23-10.  Shopene and Buchman would hit from the field, while Meghan Komendarek as well as Arnold stuck a free throw.  However, the Lakers still trailed heading to the break 33-17.  

Komendarek cut it to 33-19 with just a dozen seconds gone, but Mitchell and Obenrader both scored two on the charity line extending the margin to 37-19.  The trio of Arnold, Buchman and Shopene gave the home side some much needed momentum leading a 7-0 run to close the gap to 37-26 with 5:19 left.  The ensuing two minutes went by scoreless, before the Lady Knights finished the quarter with a 12-2 charge giving them their largest lead of the contest to that point heading to the fourth at 49-28.  
 

Q3 - 5:39 | Shopene for two! pic.twitter.com/TayqcKUX4E

— Mercyhurst Women's Basketball (@HurstWBB) January 23, 2021

 

Q3 - 5:10 | Arnold adds another for the Lakers! pic.twitter.com/81oAoeACGN

— Mercyhurst Women's Basketball (@HurstWBB) January 23, 2021

A Grace Centrulla layup was sandwiched in between Emma Wright, Obenrader and Poling's 7-2 run over a 81-second stretch.  Buchman split a pair at the line and Shopene delivered from long rang to give the Lakers some energy at 56-34 with just under seven minutes left.  The rest of the game saw Gannon keep the Lakers at bay as Buchman, Komendarek and Shopene accounted for eight of their final ten points at the foul line, and Buchman added a jumper to ultimately result in the 68-44 final.  

Team Stat Pack
Field Goal % - Hurst, 29.5% (13-44) / Gannon, 41.2% (21-51)
Three Point % - Hurst, 14.3% (3-21) / Gannon, 25% (3-12)
Foul Shooting % - Hurst, 62.5% (15-24) / Gannon, 92% (23-25)
Rebounds - Hurst, 26 / Gannon, 38
Points in Paint - Hurst, 18 / Gannon, 34 
Turnovers - Hurst, 14 / Gannon, 11 
Blocks - Hurst, 1 / Gannon, 2

Mercyhurst Individual Stats
Points - Buchman (14), Shopene (12), Arnold and Komendarek (7), Centrulla and Woodford (2)
Rebounds - Komendarek (7), Arnold (6), Centrulla (5)
Assists - Shopene (3), Arnold (2), Buchman (1)
Blocks - Arnold (1)

Gannon Individual Stats
Points - Pirosko (17), Poling (15), Mitchell (11)
Rebounds - Obenrader and Poling (7)

On Deck
As of right now the next time the Lakers hit the floor will be on Sunday, February, 14th when they visit D'Youville College at a time to be announced.

Highlights and interviews after today's loss to Gannon pic.twitter.com/YKrItO9OVc

— Mercyhurst Women's Basketball (@HurstWBB) January 23, 2021