Feb. 17, 2010

Box Score

ERIE - Clarion used runs of 18-3 and 7-0 in the second half to get a key 66-59 at Mercyhurst Wednesday night in PSAC-West women's basketball action.

The Golden Eagles (13-11 overall, 4-7 PSAC-West) led 24-21 at halftime but found themselves down 31-28 in the second half before going on the 18-3 run to take a 46-34 led halfway through the second half thanks to seven points from Bethany Koch during the stretch.

Mercyhurst (12-11, 4-7) got back within five, 49-44, with 7:25 left before Clarion used quick 7-0 run thanks to five more points from Koch to go back ahead 12, 56-44.

Koch led Clarion with 20 points, seven rebounds, five steals and two assists, while Lizzie Suwala added 15 points and six rebounds. Sara Pratt chipped in nine points, 13 rebounds and three assists with Janelle Zabresky adding nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. Rachel Graeff contributed seven points, five rebounds and four assists and now has 100 assists on the season.

Samantha Loadman paced Mercyhurst with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Jackie Artise added 13 points and Kaylee Foster 11. Amy Achesinski chipped in 12 rebounds to go with four points.

With the win, Clarion moves into a tie for fifth place in the PSAC-West with Mercyhurst with both teams two games back of Edinboro for the fourth and final PSAC playoff spot awarded to the PSAC. All three teams have three games left. Clarion is at Slippery Rock Saturday (1 p.m.), hosts Lock Haven Wednesday (6 p.m.) and is at Edinboro Feb. 27 (1 p.m.). Mercyhurst is at Lock Haven Saturday, at Gannon Wednesday and hosts California Feb. 27. Edinboro finishes with three straight home games hosting Cal Saturday, IUP Wednesday and Clarion Feb. 27.

NOTES - The win avenged a 61-58 buzzer-beating win by Mercyhurst at Clarion Jan. 27 ... Suwala recorded her 20th straight double-digit game but saw her streak of five straight games with 20 or more points come to an end. It was tied for the second longest 20-plus point scoring streak in school history and was the longest ever streak in conference play for a Golden Eagle player ... Suwala now has 963 career points ... Koch recorded her 450th career rebounds becoming the 21st player at Clarion since 1981 to reach 450 career caroms ... Pratt's 13 rebounds were a season high ... Koch's 20-point effort marked the fifth time this year she has reached 20 or more points and the second time in three games.