Buffalo, NY – Mercyhurst Women's Basketball defeats Division I opponent and reigning MAC champions – Buffalo after an intense exhibition match. The Lakers outscored the Bulls 70-68 and came out with a historic win on the road.
How It Happened
Both teams started the game slowly, as they struggled to score in the first quarter. Buffalo took the lead first and held on to it for most of the game. With five minutes on the clock, Lexi Wagner made a driving layup to bring the score to 4-8. Grace Centrulla got active at the end of the quarter, as she scored a layup and followed that with a nice jumper to make it 14-17.
The Bulls started the second quarter well, as they built up an eight-point lead with six minutes left on the clock. The Lakers didn't give up and, thanks to a couple of buckets by Ava Waid and Julia Buchman, went into the break losing by one point, 31-32.
The Lakers came out of the locker room full of energy and determination, as Paige Woodford tied the game with a three-point shot, knotting the score at 34-34. Buffalo tried to step on the gas, but Mercyhurst stayed with them through the quarter, and after another long-distance shot by Woodford, Buffalo was leading by only three points at 46-49.
Mercyhurst caught fire in the fourth quarter, as the jumper by Centrulla put her team in the lead, 51-49. The Lakers kept on applying pressure and after a nice layup by Buchman, they were up 60-56.
Buffalo tried to get back into the game and after two made free throws by Zakiyah Winfield they were down two points with 50 seconds on the clock, 67-65. The Lakers then had the ball, and with the shot clock winding down, Waid split her defenders and scored an acrobatic layup, giving the Lakers a four-point lead at 69-65.
The Bulls took a time-out and set up a play, as Hattie Ogden scored a three-pointer thanks to a lucky bounce on the rim to help them pull within one. Buffalo fouled Centrulla to stop the clock, and she knocked down one free throw putting the Lakers ahead by two points with 15 seconds left in the game.
Buffalo tried to go inside but Centrulla was right there and had two spectacular blocks in a row to secure the win for Mercyhurst. The Lakers erupted with joy as they run onto the court to celebrate their historic win over DI Buffalo.
By The Numbers
Buchman led the charge for the Lakers with 19 points and she was helped by Centrulla with 17 and Waid, scorer of 16. Mercyhurst made 11 three-pointers, whereas their opponents only made six. Once again, the Lakers did a great job defensively forcing 12 turnovers and stopping the Bulls from scoring inside.
What's Next
The Lakers are scheduled to take on Roberts Wesleyan on Tuesday, November 29th, at 5:30 for their next game. This contest serves as a makeup after the two teams had to postpone the matchup previously scheduled for November 19th, delaying the Laker's home opener of the 2022-23 season and their senior day.
