Box Score Indiana, Pa – Mercyhurst Women's Basketball stuns previously undefeated IUP, as they make it rain throughout the game on their way to the 79-71 win on the road. The Lakers record their first PSAC West victory of the season and move on to 8-5 overall.
How It Happened
The Lakers came into the Saturday matchup with a lot of determination, as Danielle Grim knocked down the first points of the game with her patented mid-range jumper to make it 2-0.
A couple of minutes later, Grace Centrulla used the pick-and-pop action to drain a three-pointer as the Lakers went ahead 9-7.
Mercyhurst dominated the first quarter, extending their lead to as many as nine points. The Hawks woke up in the second, and despite good defense from the Lakers, they minimized the deficit to five points as the teams went to the locker rooms with the score standing at 37-32. Centrulla finished the first half with ten points, and she was helped by Jayde Boyd with eight.
The Lakers came out of break full energy and used their well-balanced offense to hold onto the lead. With three minutes left in the third, Ava Waid penetrated inside and finished an and-one play with an acrobatic layup as the visitor's bench erupted with score now at 55-47.
The Hawks did their best to cut down the Lakers' lead but couldn't do so. Mercyhurst did a great job on defense and often forced IUP to take difficult shots, missing on opportunities down the stretch as the Lakers eventually won by a score of 79-71.
By The Numbers
Jayde Boyd led the charge with 19 points and she was helped by Danielle Grim and Julia Buchman with 15 points each. Grace Centrulla added 12 and recorded a team-high eight rebounds. The Lakers well-balanced offense was once again a key to the victory, with five players scoring in double digits. Mercyhurst also played very efficiently as they shot 54% from the field and 47% for three. They also held IUP to just 38% from the field and forced 14 turnovers to make this a well-rounded performance.
What's Next
The Lakers come back home on Wednesday, January 11th, as they are scheduled to take on Shepherd at 11:30 a.m.
