DAYTON, OHIO – Sophomore Lena Walz led the way for the Mercyhurst women's basketball team Thursday night at Dayton, scoring a career-high 15 points in the 86-44 loss to the Flyers.
 
The Lakers got out to a slow start offensively, going 0-for-8 from the floor and 0-for-4 from deep to start the game. Walz got Mercyhurst rolling with a triple just over six minutes into play making it 11-4 in favor of the Flyers. The Lakers were awarded a technical free throw to start the game that Jenna Van Schaik knocked down. Van Schaik went 5-for-5 from the charity stripe on the night.
 
Dayton took a 22-7 lead into the first quarter break, but the Lakers found momentum in the second quarter.
 
Mercyhurst went on a 10-0 run in the middle of the second quarter, cutting the Flyer lead to 24-17. Walz put away her own miss before Alena Fussetti got a steal and score. On the next two Laker possessions Fussetti knocked down triples putting Mercyhurst within three, 26-23.
 
Dayton went on a 15-2 run to end the half with a 41-25 advantage.
 
Walz had nine points and was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes of play.
 
The Flyer defense came out of the break strong, holding the Lakers scoreless until there was 3:50 remaining in the third stanza.
 
Walz made her third trey of the evening, but the Lakers trailed the Flyers 64-33 after three quarters of play.
 
Walz and Erica Hall ended the game with back-to-back three point makes, but the Lakers couldn't make a comeback, falling 86-44 on the road.
 
Mercyhurst had a season-high nine steals on the night, forcing Dayton into 23 turnovers.
 
The Lakers make their home debut next Friday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center as they welcome Cornell Nov. 14.