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Box Score
Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College women’s basketball team dropped a 66-59 decision to Clarion Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers posted a strong defensive effort, but struggled from the field while trying to make the comeback.
Samantha Loadman led three Lakers in double-figures with 16 points, and added 10 rebounds.
Wednesday night’s game doubled as the Lakers’ Pink Zone contest and Senior Night. Mercyhurst wore pink uniforms in support of the WBCA’s breast cancer awareness initiative. Senior players
Jackie Artise,
Kelsey Gordon and
Lindsay Whipkey were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
With the loss, the Lakers’ sixth in a row, Mercyhurst is now 12-11, 4-7 in the PSAC West. Clarion (13-11) has drawn into a tie with Mercyhurst for fifth place in the PSAC West at 4-7 in divisional play.
Mercyhurst shot 30.2 percent from the field, and hit 6-of-23 three-pointers. The Lakers connected on all but one of their 16 free throw attempts. Clarion, averaging 83 points per game over the previous five contests, was held to 66 points on 40.3 percent (27-of-67) shooting, hitting three three-pointers. They went 69.2 percent on charity tosses. The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Lakers, 46-42, including 13-12 in offensive boards. Mercyhurst committed 19 turnovers to Clarion’s 16.
Loadman posted her third double-double in the last four games, and fourth of her career. She made two three-pointers, becoming the fourth Laker with 160 threes in a career.
Amy Achesinski joined Loadman with 12 rebounds, the second time two Lakers grabbed 10 boards in the same game this season.
Artise scored 13 points, making three three-pointers.
Kaylee Foster scored 11 points, driving the lane and making 7-of-8 from the line. Gordon and Whipkey notched six and four points, respectively.
Dana Banda added five markers while leading with six assists.
Clarion’s Bethany Koch scored a game-high 20 points, grabbing five of Clarion’s eight steals, while Lizzie Suwala tallied 15.
The Golden Eagles held a slim 24-21 lead after 20 minutes of basketball. Banda tied the ballgame with a three on the Lakers’ first possession of the second half. The teams exchanged baskets over the next two minutes until Gordon tied the contest with a jumper at 28-28, and Artise hit a three for a 31-28 lead at 16:47. Clarion answered with a three with 16:20 to start a 7-0 run. Bethany Koch capped the run at 14:12, giving Clarion a 35-31 edge. Loadman hit two foul shots to slice the deficit in half at 35-33 with 13:30 remaining.
Clarion built its lead to 12 points at 46-34 with an 11-1 surge over a two-minute span, converting Mercyhurst turnovers into points. Artise made a jumper at 10:40, opening a 6-0 run which featured four free throws from Foster to lessen the Golden Eagle lead to six at 46-40 with 9:13 to go. A Foster layup with 8:32 left brought Mercyhurst to within five at 49-44, but Clarion responded with the next seven points, leading 56-44 at 5:40. The Golden Eagles held off Mercyhurst’s late charge, prevailing 66-59.
Each team had trouble finding a rhythm during the first half, and Clarion led, 16-6 at the midway point of the opening session. Loadman and Foster combined for the Lakers’ final 12 points of the first half. Artise chipped in five points during the first half, making a three-pointer. The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Lakers, 25-15 in the opening frame.
The Lakers next play at Lock Haven Saturday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. The Lady Eagles hold a 6-16 record, 1-10 in PSAC West play after a 60-48 win over Slippery Rock Wednesday. Mercyhurst defeated the Lady Eagles 86-71 in their first meeting this season, Jan. 23 at the MAC.