ERIE, Pa. - For the first time since the 2016-17 season the Mercyhurst Women's Basketball team is 5-0 after toppling Miles College for the second day in a row on Saturday afternoon by a score of 70-45. The Lakers were led by
Jayde Boyd,
Grace Centrulla and
Meghan Komendarek who combined for 50 points.
Komendarek scored the home side's first three points of the game, before
Julia Buchman split a pair at the line to make it 4-3 with 2:26 gone. Nadia Cathey put Miles ahead at 5-4 with a jumper on the ensuing possession. However, Mercyhurst seized control over the next 3:06 using a 10-0 charge on buckets by
Paige Woodford, Buchman and Centrulla to grab a 14-5 lead with 2:41 left. Miles stayed within striking distance heading into the second by closing on a 6-1 run to make it 15-11.
Nicolette Arnold and Komendarek gave the Lakers four straight to begin the second extending the lead to 19-11 not even a minute in. Katrice Jackson slowed the hosts roll for a brief moment with two free throws, prior to
Lauren Klare hitting from deep and Centrulla along with Komendarek chipping in scores during a 9-0 stretch opening the margin to 28-13. A pair of Cathey jump shots coupled with baskets by Jasmine Thompson and Raiana Johnson cut the deficit to 34-21 at half.
Boyd's three-pointer 10-seconds into the third would be the only points the Lakers scored until the 3:26 mark as Centrulla hit on a jumper making it 39-24. The Lady Bears brought the margin to a dozen twice on a triple by Raven Hand (39-27) and a bucket from Cathey (41-29) with 3:37 left. Komendarek and Centrulla did some work on the free throw line, before Boyd capped a 7-2 push with a trey extending the advantage to 48-31. Markisha Body picked up four of the final six points in the frame to give the visitors hope heading to the fourth trailing 50-35.
Miles outscored Mercyhurst over the first three minutes of the fourth, but had only been able to cut into their deficit by one as a three by Cathey made it 56-42. However, the rest of the way it was all Lakers as they closed on a 14-3 rampage with
Brittini Martin, Komendarek, Klare, Arnold, Boyd and Centrulla supplying the offense for the 70-45 victory.
Team Stat Pack
Field Goal % - Hurst, 42.6% (23-54) / Miles, 21.5% (14-65)
Three Point % - Hurst, 24% (6-25) / Miles, 20% (4-20)
Foul Shooting % - Hurst, 72% (18-25) / Miles, 68.4% (13-19)
Rebounds - Hurst, 46 / Miles, 38
Points in Paint - Hurst, 32 / Miles, 10
Turnovers - Hurst, 17 / Miles, 14
Blocks - Hurst, 6 / Miles, 0
Mercyhurst Individual Stats
Points - Komendarek (21), Boyd (18), Centrulla (11), Buchman (6), Klare (5)
Rebounds - Komendarek (11), Arnold (9), Centrulla and Boyd (6), Buchman (5)
Assists - Boyd (6), Buchman and Klare (4), Arnold and Woodford (2)
Blocks - Arnold and Centrulla (2), Boyd and McDermott (1)
Miles Individual Stats
Points - Cathey (16), Hand and Thompson (8)
Rebounds - Millner and Thompson (7)
On Deck
The Lakers will look to continue their fantastic start to the season when they hit the road for the first time as they visit Daemen College on Saturday, January 16th at 12pm.
