ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst defeated Le Moyne 72-66, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers forced Le Moyne into 20 turnovers while Cici Hernandez had a game-high 19 points with four steals.
 
The first quarter commenced with Lena Walz contributing two early free throws to give the Green and Blue an initial advantage. Despite a series of turnovers and missed shots, the Lakers managed to maintain a competitive stance, aided by defensive plays, including swipes from Hernandez.
 
Alena Fusetti and Erica Hall each added layups, with Jenna Van Schaik assisting on both occasions, keeping the score close at critical junctures. However, Le Moyne (11-20, 9-9 NEC) managed to pull ahead late in the quarter with a three-pointer, resulting in the Lakers trailing 12-8 at the end of the first.
 
Mercyhurst (14-15, 14-4 NEC) had a strong showing in the second quarter, narrowing the gap with key plays. Van Schaik's three-pointer at 6:52, assisted by Hall, sparked the scoring. Hernandez contributed by converting two crucial free throws with 1:28 remaining, trimming Le Moyne's lead. Walz further closed the margin with a three-pointer at the 4-second mark. The half ended with Le Moyne leading 25-23.
 
The Lakers surged ahead early in the third quarter with a strong sequence, beginning with Sofia Wilson's layup at 9:38 to tie the game. Lauryn Stover's timely three-pointer at 8:59, assisted by Van Schaik, gave the home team momentum.
 
Mercyhurst extended its lead with efficient play in the paint, highlighted by Hall's layup at 2:40, assisted again by Van Schaik. Despite Le Moyne's efforts to close the gap, the Lakers maintained control and finished the quarter with a 28–22 advantage, leading 51–47 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Lakers maintained their momentum in the fourth quarter, leveraging strong free-throw shooting to secure a steady lead. Van Schaik contributed significantly by sinking four crucial free throws, while Hernandez added eight points from the line, ensuring that the Green and Blue kept the pressure on Le Moyne. The team capitalized on turnovers and limited Le Moyne's second-chance points, closing out the game with a solid defensive effort. The game concluded with Mercyhurst winning 72-66.
 
Mercyhurst secured its spot as the second seed in the NEC Tournament with a win and a Chicago State loss. The Lakers will host the seven seed Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m.