Loretto, PA.- Mercyhurst suffered a tough loss against Saint Francis University on Thursday night, 70-69. Mercyhurst saw a lead only briefly in the beginning and end of the game, unable to hold off SFU's offense by the final whistle. The Lakers are now 6-8 in conference play, 9-16 overall.

How It Happened:

SFU, hoping to come back from a two-game loss streak, came out hungry against the Lakers. Quinn Borroni struck first for Mercyhurst, but Saint Francis' offense was quick to answer. The first half of the game was dominant for SFU, as they led across the board in points, rebounds, and assists going into the break. 

Despite the ten-point deficit going into half, multiple Lakers got on the board, making critical plays to keep Mercyhurst in the game. Bailey Kuhns led in scoring across both teams with 16 points, scoring more than half of the team's points in the first and second quarters. Though SFU went on a four -point run at the end of the first quarter to create some distance, it was Cici Hernandez who sunk one from downtown to make it a one-point game going into the second quarter. 

Coming out of the break, down ten points, Mercyhurst had their most impactful quarter of the game. Jenna Van Schaik and Quinn Boronni kicked off scoring with back-to-back threes to make it a two-possession game. When the game got chippy at the end of the ten minutes, Mercyhurst's Kuhns, Van Schaik, and Allyson Ross's composure from the line helped the Lakers keep the game tight, down three going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter of the game was a heartbreaker. Though both teams were taking the lead back and forth, a win in the Lakers' grasp, a layup by Saint Francis's leading scorer, Natalie Johson, in the final seconds of the match allowed SFU to sneak away with the win by one point. The final score of the game was 70-69, Saint Francis. 

Highlights: 

Four Lakers put up points in double figures. Bailey Kuhns led the team, totaling 23 for the night. She was followed by Allyson Ross who put up 14, Hernandez with 13, and Van Schaik with 12. 

Ross earned a double-double for the evening, combining her 14 points with a whopping 15 rebounds. 

Up Next:

Mercyhurst travels to Chicago, Ill., taking on the CSU Cougars in their last away game of the season. Tip off will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 27th.