ALBANY, N.Y. - Junior Julia Buchman had a career-high 14 points, while freshman Brittini Martin added a season-high 12 as the Mercyhurst women's basketball team spoiled the season-opener for the College of Saint Rose by knocking them off 70-54 on Tuesday afternoon at Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium.

St. Rose began their season by picking up the first points of the contest on a layup by Becca Townes.  Back came the Lakers with a 5-0 push with scores from Julia Buchman and Nicolette Arnold.  The Golden Knights answered back as Naeva Rene started a 9-0 charge over a 2:47 span to take an 11-5 edge.  A pair of layups by Grace Centrulla sandwiched a triple out of the hands of Arnold to nudge the visitors back in front 12-11 with 3:26 to go.  The hosts opened up a 16-12 margin, before Brittini Martin cashed in the final four of the frame to knot things at 16-16.

The two sides shared the opening six points of the second to remain deadlocked at 19-19 at the 2:08 mark.  Mercyhurst then went to work embarking on a 10-0 run during the next 3:53 thanks to Jayde Boyd, Arnold and Buchman all picking up points making it 29-19.  Townes finally halted the charge with a foul shot with 2:51 to play.  St. Rose outpaced the guests 4-3 over the remainder of the half with the Lakers lone bucket being an Emma McDermott three to lead 32-24 through two quarters.

Buchman cracked open the third with a trey, before Isabel Sanchez and Catherine Finnerty grabbed five straight to close within 35-29.  The next 1:50 was all visitors as Buchman hit two more threes and Centrulla and McDermott to finish off a 10-0 run opening a 45-29 cushion.  St. Rose controlled the remaining 4:39 by ending the quarter on an 8-0 push with scores from Nina Fedullo, Kaileigh Hunt, Sanchez and Rene bringing it to 45-37 with 30-minutes in the books. 

An early Arnold layup and Boyd three helped Mercyhurst extend the lead to 50-38.  Meghan Komendarek became the seventh different Laker to score with 8:49 remaining by sinking two at the line making it 52-41.  The ensuing three minutes saw the guests try to put the game out of reach outscoring the Knights 10-5 with four different players finding the bottom of the net (Boyd, Centrulla, Komendarek and Martin) pushing the gap to 62-46.  Jillian Spano, Boyd, Komendarek and Martin supplied the rest of the offense for the Green and Blue as they secured the 70-54 win.   

Team Stat Pack
Field Goal % - Hurst, 41.8% (23-55) / STR, 36.4% (20-55)
Three Point % - Hurst, 45% (9-20) / STR, 26.7% (4-15)
Foul Shooting % - Hurst, 83.3% (15-18) / STR, 52.6% (10-19)
Rebounds - Hurst, 40 / STR, 31
Points in Paint - Hurst, 28 / STR, 24 
Bench Points - Hurst, 26 / STR, 10
Turnovers - Hurst, 16 / STR, 13
Blocks - Hurst, 6 / STR, 4

Mercyhurst Individual Stats
Points - Buchman (14), Arnold and Martin (12), Boyd (11)
Rebounds - Boyd (9), Arnold (8), Centrulla (7)
Assists - Boyd (5), Shopene (4)
Blocks - Centrulla (4), Arnold and Boyd (1)

Saint Rose Individual Stats
Points - Townes (12), Rene (11)
Rebounds - Fedullo, Rene, Townes (5)

On Deck
The Lakers and Golden Knights get right back at it tomorrow afternoon at 1pm in the New York state capital.