Box Score

ERIE – Clarion freshman forward Ann Deibert recorded her first career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds but Mercyhurst used a big run at the end of the first half and start of the second half and
then held off a late Clarion run to get a 74-65 PSAC-West win at Mercyhurst Wednesday night.

 

Clarion (4-11 overall, 1-2 PSAC-West) had used a 6-0 run late in the first half to erase a nine-point deficit and forge a 29-all tie with 3:09 left in the opening 20 minutes. But Mercyhurst (10-8, 2-1) ended the first half on a 4-0 spurt to take a 33-29 halftime lead. The Lakers then started the second half on a 20-4 run to go up 20, 53-33, with 12:51 to play.

 

But Clarion refused to go away and chipped away to get within 10, 65-55, on a Joanna Catalano layup with 5:18 to play.

 

Mercyhurst appeared to put the game away with a quick 5-0 spurt to go up 70-55 with 4:30 to left before Clarion had one more run in it going on a 10-1 spurt to get within six, 71-65, on an old-school three by Deibert with 30 seconds left. The Lakers then missed a free throw giving Clarion a chance to cut the lead farther, but a Golden Eagle turnover ended the Clarion comeback hopes.

 

Emma Fickel added 16 points for Clarion and hit four three-pointers giving her 47 on the season, one shy of tying Lori Dando (1996) for fifth all-time at Clarion among freshmen.  Fickel added four steals.

 

Mackenzie Clark just missed her first career double-double with nine points and nine rebounds while adding five assists.  Jennifer Linkchorst chipped in seven points and Raven Jones eight assists, three steals and three points.

 

Dana Banda led Mercyhurst with 15 points, Amy Achesinski added 12 points and eight rebounds and Kaylee Foster nine points.

 

Clarion returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at IUP.