ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball got double-digit scoring efforts out of
Nicolette Arnold,
Grace Centrulla,
Jayde Boyd and
Julia Buchman to help the Lakers hold off the pesky Clarion University Golden Eagles by a score of 58-48 on Friday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
It was actually the visitors who got out to the quick start with Devon Adams and Keke Massiah staking them to a 7-2 edge 3:49 in. Olivia Boocks and Abby Gatesman kept the Golden Eagles flying high as they extended the margin to 10-4 with 3:20 to go. However, five straight by Arnold ended the period to close within 10-9.
A triple by Boyd and fastbreak bucket from Centrulla gave the hosts their first edge of the game 14-10 with a minute gone in the second. Clarion came back strong with a 10-1 charge stopped only by a
Meghan Komendarek free throw to reclaim a 20-15 advantage. With the guests in front 22-20, Buchman hit from long range and Centrulla netted four more to help the Lakers get ahead 27-22 with 70-seconds to go. Adams and Massiah would pull the visitors back to within 27-26 going to half.
Komendarek got things rolling in the third with two on the line, but five straight points by Clarion made it 31-29 with four minutes gone. Six consecutive points from Arnold sparked a 13-0 Lakers rampage capped off by a Komendarek three giving the home team a nine-point cushion 40-31 with less than two minutes remaining. Emily Brown netted five straight for Clarion making it 40-36 after three.
Arnold, Boyd and Centrulla began the final period with an 8-2 run over the opening 2:36 pushing the advantage to double-digits at 48-38. Komendarek kept the hosts ahead by double-digits at 50-40 with a paint jumper at the halfway point. Clarion made another push with a 6-1 spurt thanks to the combination of Abby Gatesman and Adams to get within 51-46 still with three minutes remaining. Arnold, Buchman and Boyd would close things out with clutch free throws for the 58-48 final.
Team Stat Pack
Field Goal % - Hurst, 36.4% (20-55) / Clarion, 36.2% (17-47)
Three Point % - Hurst, 36.8% (7-19) / Clarion, 21.4% (3-14)
Foul Shooting % - Hurst, 68.8% (11-16) / Clarion, 64.7% (11-17)
Rebounds - Hurst, 36 / Clarion, 35
Points in Paint - Hurst, 24 / Clarion, 26
Bench Points - Hurst, 12 / Clarion, 12
Turnovers - Hurst, 12 / Clarion, 18
Blocks - Hurst, 2 / Clarion, 2
Mercyhurst Individual Stats
Points - Arnold (17), Centrulla (12), Boyd and Buchman (10)
Rebounds - Arnold (8), Boyd (7)
Assists - Boyd (6), Shopene (5)
Blocks - Buchman and Shopene (1)
Clarion Individual Stats
Points - Adams (14), Gatesman (12), Brown (10)
Rebounds - Adams (8)
On Deck
The Lakers will welcome crosstown rival Gannon University for Round One of the Porreco Pride of Erie Games on Wednesday night at 5:30pm.
