Box Score

CLARION – Freshman Mackenzie Clark hit the backend of a two-shot foul with 1.7 seconds left to lift the Clarion University women's basketball team to a 66-65 upset of visiting Mercyhurst Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.

 

Clark had grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer by Raven Jones and was fouled by Mercyhurst's Amy Achesinski. She missed the first free throw, but, following a Mercyhurst timeout to freeze her, connected on the second one to give Clarion (6-15 overall, 3-6 PSAC-West) the lead. The Lakers (13-11, 5-4) tried a desperation halfcourt shot at the buzzer but it was way short.    

 

Mercyhurst had tied the game at 65 on a jumper by Samantha Loadman with 11.7 seconds to play after an old-school three-point play by Lauren Savulchak with 30 seconds left had given Clarion a 65-63 lead.

 

Clarion trailed by four, 63-59, with just under two minutes to play but had gotten to within one on a three-pointer by Clark, her second triple of the game.

 

Savulchak, a freshman, led Clarion with a career-high 24 points while adding nine rebounds and four assists. Emma Fickel chipped in with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals while Ann Deibert and Joanna Catalano each had eight points for the Golden Eagles. Clark and Raven Jones each chipped in with seven tallies with Clark adding three rebounds and three assists and Jones five rebounds.

 

Achesinski led Mercyhurst with a double-double of 15 points, 14 rebounds while adding five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Loadman chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds with Nikki Frederickson adding 12 points.

 

Clarion led 28-26 at halftime and built the lead to 10, 48-38, on a three-pointer by Savulchak with 13:01 left to play that capped an 8-0 Golden Eagles run.

 

But Mercyhurst used a 25-11 run to forge ahead with the 63-59 lead on two Achesinski free throws with 1:58 left.

 

Clarion is back in action at 1 p.m. Saturday at Edinboro.

 

NOTES – Savulchak's previous high was 19 points a week ago at California … Fickel hit two more three-pointers giving her 69 on the season tying Rachel Steinbugl for third among freshmen in school history … Clarion has won two conference games in a row … Clark's game-winning free throw marks the first time a Golden Eagle player has won the game in the final 10 seconds since My'Kea Cohill beat Slippery Rock 76-74 with a game-winning shot Feb. 25, 2007.