South Euclid, Ohio—On the road for the first time this season, the Mercyhurst Women's Basketball team lost to the Notre Dame College (Ohio) Falcons, 75-68.
Despite late pushes from the Lakers in the even quarters and out-shooting the Falcons overall from the floor, Notre Dame was able to lead virtually the whole way after a brief Mercyhurst lead to start the game.
After Grace Centrulla started the scoring to put Mercyhurst up 2-0, the Falcons went on an 11-point run that took up five minutes before the Lakers would score again. Of those 11 points, seven came from the free-throw line, a trend that would continue throughout the night.
The Lakers sunk 44 percent of their shots from the floor, compared to 37 percent for Notre Dame, and actually made more field goals (27) than the Falcons (23). However, Notre Dame's players were sent to the free-throw line 35 times on the night and made the most of it, converting 71 percent of their shots for 25 free points.
After trailing for most of the first half, the Lakers rallied to close the gap to just one point in the final minutes of the second quarter on a pair of free throws from Jayde Boyd. The Falcons replied to bump the lead to five points before a Julia Buchman three-pointer narrowed the gap again. Notre Dame's Marina Adachi sunk a last-second jumper to give the Falcons a 32-28 lead heading into halftime.
Averaging under 15 points per quarter in the game, the Lakers offense exploded in the final frame for 24 points, anchored by seven points apiece from Boyd and Grace Centrulla, who was kept relatively quiet until that point. Forced to turn to fouls in the final minutes, the Falcons continued their good fortune at the stripe to hold onto their lead.
Boyd finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds to record the second Lakers double-double of the season. Buchman had some timely three-pointers to keep the game close and led the Lakers offensively with 19 points. Centrulla wound up with 11 points and four rebounds.
Up Next
The Lakers visit Athens, Ohio, to take on Ohio University Saturday at 1 p.m. They are on a seven-game stretch of away games before returning to Mercyhurst Dec. 14.
