Athletics Communication

Achesinski Named PSAC Athlete of the Week

David Haurin, Athletics Communication Intern12/6/2010 3:29:47 PM

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- Officials from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference have selected Amy Achesinski as the PSAC Western Division Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week for the period ending Dec. 5.

A senior forward , Achesinski recorded her third consecutive double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. She went 7-of-10 from the field, including 8-of-10 from the line. She also added a game-high 3 blocked shots.

Achesinski helped the Lakers to a 1-0 mark this week, beating Urbana University 80-70 in overtime. Her defensive efforts, a blocked shot in the lane in the final seconds, led to a game tying fast-break for Mercyhurst.

This is her second consecutive weekly honor this season and third of her career.

Achesinski is in action tonight against Mansfield at 5:30 in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

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Mercyhurst Downs Bloomsburg 75-64 for 3rd-Straight Win


ERIE, Pa. -- Sophomore Lindsey Burke's career-day led the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team to its third straight victory, beating the Bloomsburg University Huskies, 75-64.

Burke set new career-highs in points (13), rebounds (8) and blocked shots (2), after setting a new career mark for assists yesterday with four.

Three other Lakers aided Burke's efforts, reaching double-digits in the point column as well.

Junior Nikki Frederickson finished the day one rebound away from a double-double as she accounted for 11 points. Her nine rebounds set a new career-high.

Senior Amy Achesinski also finished one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 18 points after getting into foul trouble early in the game.



Dana Banda added 16 points, 12 of which came in the second half, sealing the deal for Mercyhurst.

The Lakers scored the first five points of the game, thanks to efforts by Achesinski and a 3-point play by sophomore Kaylee Foster.

Bloomsburg kept it close until the end of the first half when Mercyhurst jumped out to a 13-point lead. Burke accounted for 11 points in the first period, giving the Lakers an 11-point edge as the half came to a close.

Dana Wieller led the Huskies' offense in the first with 11 points. Bloomsburg shot just 27 percent from the field (7-26), making only three of the 12 3-pointers attempted.

Mercyhurst shot 39 percent from the field (11-28) in the first, with six different Lakers adding to the point total. Foster and senior Samantha Loadman ended the period with five points each.

The Huskies took control right out of the gate, outscoring Mercyhurst 16-3 in the first five minutes of the second half. Igniting the Bloomsburg offense with seven points during this run was Kayla Oxenrider. She managed to tie the game up at 36 with 15 minutes to play.

Loadman gave the Lakers their lead back on a 3-pointer, which Mercyhurst fought hard for. The next 12 minutes was played tight as the two teams went back and forth exchanging baskets.

Bloomsburg kept the Lakers' lead within grasp until Catherine Noack sank a 3-pointer, tying it up for the second time with just over three minutes to play.

Achesinski successfully converted a 3-point play, giving Mercyhurst its lead back and sparking an 11-0 run for the Lakers, putting the game out of reach.

Down the home stretch, the Lakers were a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line, solidifying the win.

Bloomsburg moves to 8-4 on the season. The team shot 36 percent from the field (22-61) and 38 percent from beyond the arc (11-29). Wieller led the Huskies offensively with 17 points. Oxenrider finished with 14 points.

Megan Hoffman tied her career-high in assists, unselfishly dishing out six, helping Mercyhurst to its eighth win of the season. The Lakers shot 43 percent from the field (23-53) and 79 percent from the line (23-29).

Mercyhurst is back in action Wednesday, Jan. 12 as the team travels to Lock Haven.

Fred Hale and Bryan Boyce to Play in Cactus Bowl


ERIE, Pa. -- Mercyhurst College senior football players Bryan Boyce and Fred Hale will represent the Lakers in the 2011 Cactus Bowl on Friday, January 7.

The Cactus Bowl, which is a two-team all-star game featuring NCAA Division II senior football players, will be played at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas, on the campus of Texas A&M-Kingsville.

A three-time all PSAC West selection at linebacker, Boyce finished the season as a first-team Super Region 1 selection. The Hubbard, Ohio native completed his senior season with 91 total tackles, including 16.5 for a combined loss of 79 yards. Boyce was also named to the CoSIDA / ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American first team. He had a team-high 10.5 sacks and a ties a team-high five quarterback hurries. Boyce finishes his career with 302 tackles, ninth best at Mercyhurst and ranks second for a career in sacks with 20 and third in tackles for loss with 44.5.



Hale, a two-time all PSAC West selection at defensive end, finished the season as a first-team Super Region 1 selection. A product of Mentor, Ohio, Hale ended the season with 35 total tackles, 10.5 for a loss and 9 sacks. He ties a team-high five quarterback hurries for the season. For his career, Hale finished with 111 total tackles, including 13 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss.

Both players helped Mercyhurst to its best season in school history winning the PSAC for the first time. This earned the Lakers a birth in the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time, advancing to the quarterfinals.

The Cactus Bowl has annually attracted some of the top talent in NCAA Division II and this year is no different. There are seven Harlon Hill Trophy regional finalists playing in this year's game, including the three national finalists.

The Harlon Hill Trophy is given to the NCAA Division II football player of the year.

This year's recipient of the trophy is University of Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski. A first team All-American selection by Daktronics and AFCA, Czerniewski set a NCAA Division II record for most passing yards in a season (5,207) this year. He was also named Division II Offensive Player of the Year, accumulating 5,203 yards of total offense, including 46 touchdown passes. For a career, Czerniewski threw for 12,847 yards (fourth in NCAA Division II) and 107 touchdowns.

West Liberty (W.V.) University quarterback Zach Amedro finished a close second in the voting, losing by only six votes. Amedro was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2009 as well. He currently ranks first in Division II for passing yards (14,733) and is a second team All-American selection. He finished this year with 4,058 passing yards averaging 405.8 yards per game, ranking him second nationally. He finishes his career with 30 300-yard passing games including 13 consecutively.

Finishing third in the voting was Northwest Missouri State quarterback Blake Bolles. He owns career records at Northwest Missouri for passing yards (8,668) and touchdowns (79). This season, he threw for 3,846 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was a pre-season All-American.

Fans unable to attend the game can watch a live webcast or follow live stats during the game via www.cactusbowl.org.

Lakers 4-Game Winning Streak Snapped

David Haurin, Athletics Communication Intern 1/15/2011 2:52:19 PM

Boxscore

ERIE, Pa. - Amy Achesinski scores a game-high 14 points as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team snaps its four-game winning streak, losing to the Vulcans of California (Pa.) University, 73-54.

The Lakers' loss evens out their PSAC West record at 1-1. Dana Banda complimented the Mercyhurst offense, adding 11 points of her own and assisting on four other baskets. Achesinski's 14 points extends her consecutive streak of scoring double-figures to 15 games.

California took control of the game early, jumping out to an eight point lead just five minutes into the game. Senior Samantha Loadman and junior Megan Hoffman each drained a 3-pointer to pull within two points of the Vulcans. This would be the smallest margin between the two teams as California took off.

The Vulcans followed that up by sinking the next three baskets and igniting an 8-0 run with 6:44 left in the first. Mercyhurst battled hard to keep California's lead in single digits, but the Vulcan offense was just too much for the Lakers to handle.

Cynthia Fullard, Amy Johns and Kate Seebohm combined for the remaining points of the half, accounting for eight in the last five minutes. This run increased the California lead to 17 points, ending the half with a score of 41-24 in favor of the Vulcans.

Sophomore Kaylee Foster highlighted the Mercyhurst offense in the first half with her seven points. Loadman drained two 3-pointers and accounted for six Laker points.

However, the story of the first half for the Lakers was turnovers. Mercyhurst turned the ball over 15 times, leading to 15 California points. The team made 46 percent of the shots taken from the field (10-22) and 38 percent of those taken beyond the arc.

Amy Johns outscored everyone in the first half for the Vulcans, posting 15 points. Seven other California players added points in the first half, complimenting those of Johns.

Banda opened the second half draining a 3-pointer, trying to spark a Laker run. That spark was quickly extinguished as the Vulcans countered that three with six points of their own and extending their lead to 20 points with 17:09 to play.

The two teams exchanged baskets until California scored three straight, jumping out to a 25-point lead, the biggest of the game, at the 14:03 mark.

This lead would be too much for the Lakers to handle, as they were only able to get within 12 points during the remainder of the game.

Johns led the Vulcan attack with 24 points. Kayla Smith held her own, scoring 16 points.

California scored 24 points off of 24 Laker turnovers, the difference in the game. Mercyhurst managed to only sink 17 of 44 shots from the field and 7 of 20 from 3-point land.

The Lakers are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 19, as they host Clarion at 5:30 p.m.

Late Charge Lifts Lakers Over California (Pa.), 73-62


Boxscore

ERIE, Pa. - Heiden Ratner and Luis Leao both score in the 20s, lifting the Lakers over California (Pa.) University, 73-62. Mercyhurst rolls to its second straight PSAC West win.

Leao led the Laker attack, completing his double-double performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds. This double-double marks his sixth one of the season.

Ratner's 22 points keeps his consecutive streak of scoring 20 or more points in a game alive, moving to five in a row and 12 out of 14 this season.

Freshman Andrew Rickard held his own draining his only 3-pointer attempted and tallying 11 points.



The Vulcans scored the first points of the game as Freddy Appiah sank a 3-pointer at the 19:09 mark. A Jumper in the paint by Leao would cut that lead to one some three minutes later.

Each team followed the other team's basket up with one of their own, keeping the lead no greater than eight points. Shelton Jackson gave the game its first tie (10-10) at 12:56 after stealing the ball and completing a huge dunk.

Jackson's technical foul after the basket allowed California to regain the lead quickly as Appiah drained both free-throws.

After being fouled on a layup, Rickard finished out the three-point play, giving Mercyhurst its first and only lead (13-12) of the half.

The two duked it out the rest of the half, exchanging baskets with fundamentally sound play. California was able to jump out to a nine-point lead at the two minute mark. Leao and Bill Weaver would connect on the next two baskets, keeping that lead manageable.

Leao highlighted the Laker offense in the first half, scoring 11 points and pulling down eight boards. Rickard finished with six points, shooting perfect from the 3-point arc.

The Lakers as a team shot just 37 percent from the field (11-30) and 38 percent from the line (3-8).

For the Vulcans, Rashawd Hatten scored 13 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. He too also shot perfect from beyond the arc (3-3).

California jumped out to a nine point lead in the second half after Steve Swiech hit a jumper 30 seconds in. Mercyhurst began to chip away at that lead, answering basket for basket creating turnovers.

Ratner pulled the lead within two, sinking all three free-throws after being fouled on a 3-point shot. However, it wouldn't be until the 5:23 mark that the Lakers would finally regain the lead for good.

A sense of urgency led Ratner to the hole, sinking a layup for the lead (57-56). He would score the next basket as well, giving Mercyhurst a three point lead.

Weaver drained a layup on his own steal, sparking a Mercyhurst 9-2 run, closing the door on the Vulcans. Rickard added two late free-throws giving the Lakers their biggest lead of the game (12) with just 29 seconds remaining.

Mercyhurst moves to 11-3 on the year and 2-0 in PSAC West play. They are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 19, as they host Clarion at 7:30 p.m.

Head Coach Deanna Richard Wins 100th Career Game as Mercyhurst Drops Clarion, 74-65


Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Sophomore Dana Banda led the Laker offense scoring a game-high 15 points as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team drops the Clarion Golden Eagles, 74-65, earning head coach Deanna Richard her 100th career win.

Banda complimented her 15 points by dishing out five assists and pulling in 3 rebounds. Senior guard Samantha Loadman tied her career-high for assists, assisting on seven Mercyhurst baskets.

Amy Achesinski continued her consecutive streak scoring double-figures. She ended with 12 points and eight rebounds. Her streak now stands at 17 games. She also managed to block 3 shots.



Ann Deibert highlighted the Golden Eagle attack, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 boards to complete the double-double. Emma Fickel aided the Clarion offense, adding 16 points of her own. Raven Jones unselfishly assiste on eight Golden Eagle baskets.

The Lakers jumped out to an early lead, thanks to Kaylee Foster who scored the first four points of the game with 18:34 left to play in the half. Fickel answered back, sinking a 3-pointer to pull within one.

A Loadman turnover led to a Lauren Savulchak layup, giving the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game, which they would hold for the next three minutes.

Fickel and Jones extended that lead, scoring consecutive baskets to pull ahead four.

Nikki Frederickson and Achesinski combined for four points, tying the game up at 8 and sparking a Mercyhurst 13-3 run lasting until the 8:19 mark.

Clarion held their own, exchanging baskets with the Lakers over the next four minutes, until an Ann Deibert layup ignited the Golden Eagle offense, which scored the next six points to tie the game at 29 with 3:09 to play in the first.

Frederickson scored the final four points of the half, giving Mercyhurst its second lead and a four-point advantage heading into the locker room.

The Lakers shot 46.7 percent from the field (14-30) and 20 percent from the arc (3-15). Loadman scored all her points (7) in the first half, leading the team's offense. Frederickson and Foster each scored six, while Banda added five.

Mercyhurst also pulled down a total of 21 rebounds in the first, compared to that of 18 by Clarion.

Deibert scored eight points for the Golden Eagles in the first, while teammates Fickel, Clark and Catalano each scored four. As a team, Clarion shot just 35.3 percent from the field (12-34) and 20 percent from the beyond the arc (2-10).

Banda heated up at the start of the half, scoring the first five points of play and increasing the Laker lead to nine points.

It would be all Mercyhurst the next seven minutes as Banda's five points spearheaded a Laker 21-4 run. Banda and Achesinski combined for 16 points (Banda 10, Achesinski 6) during this run.

Clarion fought right back, scoring a quick five points. Fickel found her stroke the second half, draining three 3-pointers and helping the Golden Eagles battle to within 10 points at the 5:18 mark.

Good free-throw shooting by the Lakers down the stretch, sealed the deal for Mercyhurst, keeping it a two possession game.

The Lakers shot 51.9 percent from the field (28-54) and 30.4 percent from 3-point land (7-23). The team turned the ball over 21 times, leading to 26 Clarion points.

The Golden Eagles shot just 37.3 percent from the field (25-67) and 64.3 percent from the line (9-14). As for Clarion, they turned the ball over 15 times, leading to 16 Mercyhurst points.

Mercyhurst set a new season-high in assists, tallying 24 as a team. They now move to 10-8 on the season and 2-1 in PSAC West play.

The Golden eagles move to 4-11 on the season and 1-2 in PSAC West play.

The Lakers are back in action Saturday Jan. 22, as they travel down to Slippery Rock. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

Mercyhurst beats East Stroudsburg, 64-53

David Haurin, Athletics Communication Intern1/5/2011 12:26:26 AM

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- Nikki Frederickson ties her season-high with 12 points as the Mercyhurst College Lakers defeat the Warriors of East Stroudsburg, 64-53.

Senior forward Amy Achesinski led the Lakers' offensive attack, scoring 17 points and dishing out four assists. Frederickson handed out five assists while pulling six rebounds.

East Stroudsburg scored the first two points of the game as Andrea Veres made both free-throws after a Janeale Ronai foul, accounting for their only lead of the game.

A Frederickson 3-pointer followed, putting Mercyhurst up by one. The Warriors managed to fight back and forth with the Lakers, giving the game its only tie (11-11) with 15 minutes to play in the first half.

Ronai hit a 3-pointer to retake the lead and it would be all Mercyhurst from here. Sophomore Kaylee Foster extended that lead to five, after sinking a layup off an Achesinski steal.



Veres cut the Lakers' lead to two, sinking a 3-pointer with 11 minutes left in the half. The next three minutes belonged to Mercyhurst, as the team went on a 8-0 run to extend its lead to 10.

The two teams exchanged baskets back and forth for the remainder of the half, finishing it with a score of 36-24 in favor of the Lakers.

Mercyhurst only shot 38 percent from the field in the first half (15-40). The Warriors shot 29 percent from the field (8-28) and 25 percent from the 3-point land (3-12).

Frederickson wasted no time in the second half, scoring two more points for the Lakers, just eight seconds into the start of the period. Sophomore Lindsey Burke added a layup with 16 minutes to go, giving Mercyhurst its biggest lead of the game (19 points).

The Warriors made a push over the next four minutes, igniting a 6-0 run. A Frederickson layup and a Foster 3-pointer took the wind out of their sails, pushing Mercyhurst's lead to 18 with 11 minutes to play.

East Stroudsburg battled back, cutting the Lakers' lead to 10 after a series of free-throws by Mia Waring and Brittany McClain.

The Lakers played conservatively the last five minutes, solidifying their victory.

Samantha Loadman scored 13 points for Mercyhurst, nine from the arc, while Foster ended the evening with 13. As a team, the Lakers managed shot 39 percent from the field (27-70) and 42 percent from the line (3-7).

Veres led the Warrior offense, scoring 21 points and dishing out four assists. McClain and Waring each added nine points respectively.

The Lakers are back in action Saturday Jan. 8, as they host Mansfield University at 1 p.m.

Lakers Fall to Edinboro, 78-40


Box Score

ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst College women's basketball team loses its second straight game, as the Fighting Scots of Edinboro dominate the Lakers to a 78-40 victory.

The Lakers concluded pre-game warm-ups with much anticipation, after honoring teammate Samantha Loadman who recently joined the 1,000-point club. This would be the only positive portion of the game for the Lakers, as Mercyhurst came out flat, facing a tough Edinboro defense.

The Fighting Scots started the first half swinging, instituting a tight man-to-man defense and forcing some costly Laker turnovers.

Renee Brown opened the game with a layup at 19:14 setting the tone early for Edinboro. Her sister Kiara Brown added a 3-pointer of her own, starting the game on a 5-0 run.



Mercyhurst's Kaylee Foster laid one up for two, scoring the only Laker basket of the first five minutes.

K. Brown hit another 3-pointer pushing the score to 10-2 in favor of the Fighting Scots.

The Mercyhurst scoring drought ended on an Amy Achesinski Layup at 15:25, increasing their point total to four.

Missed opportunities and turnovers followed Achesinski's basket, allowing Edinboro to spark a 10-0 run, giving them a 16-point advantage.

The Fighting Scots' full-court press with 11 minutes left in the half proved too much for the Lakers to handle, as they were held to only 21 points in the half.

Edinboro's defense and rebounding trumped that of Mercyhurst, as they blocked six shots, posted nine steals, and had six offensive rebounds leading to 10 second-chance points.

The achilles heel for the Lakers continues to be turnovers, as they turned the ball over 18 times in the first half alone, leading to 23 points for the Fighting Scots.

Achesinski led the half with 6 points for Mercyhurst, pulling down seven rebounds.

The 24-point lead Edinboro opened up the second half with continued to grow, increasing to as much as 42 points.

The Lakers struggled to find an answer for the defensive presence of the Fighting Scots as they kept forcing play after play, incurring more turnovers.

Edinboro scored 40 points off of 30 Mercyhurst turnovers, compared to the six points the Lakers scored off of turnovers.

The Fighting Scots only outrebounded Mercyhurst 37-34, however they were more efficient on second chance opportunities, scoring 19 points to the Lakers' nine.

Defensively, Edinboro dominated the entire game, blocking 12 shots and stealing the ball 16 times.

The Lakers are back in action Saturday, Feb. 5, as they host the Bald Eagles of Lock Haven. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

11 Lakers Honored by Team and Coaches


ERIE, Pa -- The Mercyhurst College football team summed up the year with its end-of-the-season banquet, Jan. 15. Eleven Lakers were honored by their coaches and teammates for this past year's accomplishments, including six seniors.

Tim Herbener, a product of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, played linebacker for the Lakers and was a second-team All-PSAC West selection this past season. Herbener received the Ironman Award this season for his contributions on the field. His teammates were also aware of his leadership qualities, recognizing him as a team captain.

Julius McCormick finished his career at Mercyhurst playing cornerback for the Lakers. He was an All-PSAC West first team selection this past season, and in 2009 he was a second team honoree. He was honored with the Outstanding Defensive Back award for his play this past season.



Gerald Anderson completed his career setting the single-season rushing record for the Lakers, running for 1,313 yards. His efforts on the field earned him an All-PSAC West second team selection, as well as being honored by his team as the Most Outstanding Offensive Back. He was also recognized as a team captain.

Bryan Boyce polished off his senior season receiving numerous accolades for his defensive performance this year. This season, Boyce was selected to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team, CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team, Daktronics Super Region 1 First Team, PSAC West First Team, Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-Super Region I First-Team. He also was honored as the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being honored to play in the Cactus Bowl. His team recognized him as a team captain, Outstanding Student Athlete of the Year and their Defensive Player of the Year.

Fred Hale also received a number of accolades this past season. A defensive lineman, Hale was selected to the PSAC West First Team, Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-Super Region I First Team and the ECAC Division II All-Star Team. He was also selected to play in the Cactus Bowl. As recognized by his team, Hale was awarded the Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman award.

Garrett Kensy rounds out the Laker seniors honored at their annual banquet. Kensy played quarterback and wide receiver for Mercyhurst, and was honored by his teammates as a team captain.

Other players receiving awards for the Lakers were Terrence Coon, Kevin Poropat, Ian Wild, Trevor Kennedy and Travis Rearick.

A complete list of team awards below:

IRONMAN AWARD Tim Herbener

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Terrence Coon

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Kevin Poropat

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE LINEMAN Fred Hale

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE BACK Gerald Anderson

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE BACK Julius McCormickIan Wild

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Trevor Kennedy

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Bryan Boyce

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Travis Rearick

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ATHLETE Ian WildBryan Boyce

MVP Travis Rearick

TEAM CAPTAINS Gerald AndersonBryan BoyceTim HerbenerGarrett Kensy

Lakers Upend the Golden Knights, 75-63


ERIE, Pa. – First half dominance leads the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team to victory over cross-town rival, Gannon University, 75-63.

Gannon's reign over Mercyhurst the last seven years, came to an abrupt end after seniors Samantha Loadman and Amy Achesinski combined for 38-points, helping the Lakers snap an 18-game winless streak against the Golden Knights.

Loadman finished the night with a game-high 20 points, pushing her career total to 999. The two 3-pointers she made moves her into second place all-time with a career total of 215 made.

Achesinski's 18 points and 12 rebounds, sets a new personal season-high for double-doubles, increasing her total to eight this season.



After an opening bucket by Gannon, the Lakers took charge, going on a 15-0 run fueled by Loadman and sophomore Kaylee Foster. Loadman scored seven, while Foster accounted for six of her own.

Mercyhurst continued to have great looks from the court, shooting over 70 percent in the first 10 minutes of play.

Junior Megan Hoffman pushed the Laker lead to 15 after draining a wide-open 3-pointer with 8:42 left in the first half.

The Golden Knights managed to shake things up a bit, scoring two-straight baskets in hopes to kill the Mercyhurst momentum.

Sophomore Dana Banda and Hoffman had other plans, each sinking a 3-pointer within a minute of one-another, increasing that Laker lead back to 17 points.

Gannon ended the half on a 7-0 run, coming within 11-points of the Lakers.

Rebounding was a huge factor in the first half, as Mercyhurst held the Golden Knights to many one-shot possessions.

Loadman and Foster fronted the first half dominance, scoring nine and eight points respectively. Mercyhurst made 57.7 percent of its shots from the field (15-26) and 40 percent of its shots from the arc (4-10).

Gannon closed the half making only 40 percent of its shots from the field (10-25) and 16.7 percent of shots from the arc (2-12).

The Golden Knights came out swinging in the second half, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 10, with just over 16 minutes to play in the game.

Sophomore Katie Carbee countered that effort, swishing a 3-pointer at the 15:48 mark.

Gannon's Kelsey McCoy answered back with a three of her own, giving the Knights a chance to cut the lead to single-digits.

Loadman followed up with a 3-pointer and then a jumper in the paint, stopping the Gannon surge with 12:03 left.

However, a few missed opportunities, some fouls and back-to-back 3-pointers by the Golden Knights' Caitlyn Lowe chopped that lead down to nine, midway through the second.

Banda rekindled the Laker momentum, draining a 3-pointer from way downtown, pushing the Mercyhurst lead back to 11-points.

Every time the Golden Knights tried to rally, the Lakers answered with a big shot of their own.

The key to the second half was the play of Achesinski. She kept quiet in the first half, only scoring two-points. However, she came up with some big shots and rebounds in the second half, aiding to the Mercyhurst victory.

Her performance this evening movies her into fourth place all-time in rebounds with her career total now at 797, second place for free-throws made at 432 and third place in all-time scoring with 1,523-points.

Mercyhurst moves to 12-8 on the season and 4-1 in PSAC West play, riding a three-game winning streak.

Four Lakers ended the night, scoring double-figures, accounting for 58 of Mercyhurst's 75 points (20-Loadman, 18-Achesinski, 10-Banda, 10-Hoffman).

The Lakers shot 53.4 percent from the field (31-58) and 38.1 percent from 3-point land (8-21). Mercyhurst out-rebounded the Golden Knights 36-24.

Gannon finished the evening shooting 43.8 percent (21-48), making seven baskets from beyond the arc.

The Lakers begin a three-game home stand this Saturday, Jan. 29, against Indiana (Pa.). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

Mercyhurst falls to Kutztown, 81-56.


KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Amy Achesinski's 17 points was not enough as the Mercyhurst College Lakers fall to the Kutztown University Golden Bears, 81-56.

Achesinski led the Lakers' offense scoring a game-high 17 points while senior Samantha Loadman added nine points of her own. Defensively, Achesinski pulled in eight rebounds and blocked two shots. Sophomore Dana Banda led the team in assists with four.

The Golden Bears took control early starting the game on a 5-0 run. Loadman cut that lead to two on a 3-pointer. Kutztown and Mercyhurst exchanged leads over the next four minutes until the Lakers took their first lead of the game with 12 minutes left to play in the half.

An Achesinski layup followed by a Kaylee Foster free throw increased that lead to four. With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Golden Bears gave the game its first tie with a score of 13-13.



Kutztown scored the next two baskets, jumping out to a 17-13 lead with nine minutes to go. Nikki Frederickson cut that lead in half after scoring two of her seven points. Sophomore Lindsey Burke added a 3-pointer of her own, giving Mercyhurst its second lead of the night.

The Golden Bears regained the lead on a Melissa McQuade 3-pointer. However, Frederickson was able to tie the game up at 26 after scoring her only 3-pointer of the game. Loadman scored another three points, regaining the lead for the Lakers.

Kutztown scored the next 10 points to retake the lead at the close of the half (36-29). The Lakers shot 42 percent from the field (11-26) and 39 percent from the arc (5-13). The Golden Bears shot 48 percent from the field (14-29) and 50 percent from the arc (3-6).

The Golden Bears extended their lead to 14 early, scoring seven points in the first 1:30 of the second half. Mercyhurst continued to battle, chipping away at that lead. Loadman added her third and final 3-pointer and Achesinski scored two more of her points to decrease the lead to nine.

However, each time the Lakers chipped away, Kutztown was there to answer almost immediately. Mercyhurst managed to cut the lead to five with just over 11 minutes left to play, but this wasn't enough. The Golden Bears answered with the next six, pushing the lead back to 11.

A Banda 3-pointer and an Achesinski 3-point-play gave the Lakers one last chance with six minutes to play. However, it would be all Kutztown to follow as the Golden Bears scored 18 points to Mercyhurst's two to end the game.

Junior Megan Hoffman added six points while sophomore Kaylee Foster added five points of her own. For Kutztown, Ashley Wood led the offense with 20 points while Kristen Murray added 15 more.

As a team, the Lakers shot 40 percent from the field (21-52) and 39 percent from the arc (10-26). Kutztown shot 56 percent from the field (32-57) and 58 percent from the arc (7-12).

The Lakers are back in action Jan. 4 as they travel to East Stroudsburg. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Achesinski Records Ninth Double-Double as Lakers Beat Lock Haven, 68-59


Box Score

ERIE, Pa. -- Senior forward Amy Achesinski records her ninth double-double this season as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team defeats the Bald Eagles of Lock Haven 68-59.

Achesinski scored 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to complete the double-double, the 29th of her career. Classmate Samantha Loadman and junior Megan Hoffman also scored double-figures for the Lakers, tallying 12 and 10 points respectively.

Achesinski started things off on the right foot for the Lakers, scoring the game's first points with a layup at the 19:08 mark. Lock Haven's Kelsey Ryan completed a three-point play after a Kaylee Foster foul to give the Bald Eagles their first lead of the game.



Achesinski made back-to-back free-throws just before the first media timeout, tying the game up at nine. Foster and Lock Haven's Kristen Kudrick exchanged baskets, keeping the game tied, this time at 11.

Dana Banda sparked a Mercyhurst 7-2 run, laying one up for two at the 13:07 mark, helping the Lakers to an eight-point advantage.

Sharay Hall tied the game back up for the Bald Eagles, sinking a layup at 8:18.

Achesisnki's perfection from the line (6-6) and 75 percent performance from the field in the first half (3-4), helped the Lakers to a 13-point lead heading into the locker room.

The second half started slow with a series of fouls and missed opportunities on both sides. The first field-goal wasn't scored until the 17:43 mark when Kudrick laid on up for the Bald Eagles. She followed that up with a made free-throw to complete the three-point play.

Mercyhurst countered with a three-point play of their own, fueled by Achesisnki, to maintain a double-figure lead.

Lock Haven battled back, chipping away at the Lakers' lead.

Thanks to a jumper by Kelsey Ryan, the Bald Eagles came within three points of Mercyhurst just under eight minutes to play.

The Bald Eagles continued to threaten, holding a two-possession deficit.

However, a jumper by Loadman and a 3-pointer by Hoffman, kicked the Mercyhurst lead to eight, stopping the Lock Haven momentum.

Loadman followed up with another jumper, pushing the lead to 10 points, keeping the game just out of reach.

Good free-throw shooting down the stretch by the Lakers (7-of-8), kept the heat on the Bald Eagles and eventually led 68-59 victory for Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst moves to 13-10 on the season and 5-3 in the PSAC West. As a team, the Lakers shot 40.4 percent from the field (19-47) and 78.1 percent from the line (25-32).

The Lakers are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 9, as they travel down the Clarion to take on the Eagles. Tip-off is set for 5:30.

Mercyhurst Wins Fourth Straight, Toppling Lock Haven, 76-59


Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- Senior forward Amy Achesinski records her seventh double-double of the season as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team extends its winning streak to four, toppling the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles, 76-59.

Achesinski shot 90 percent from the field, recording her seventh double-double (24 points, 12 rebounds) of the season. This ties her single season-high double-double mark (7), just 16 games in, giving her 27 double-doubles of her career.

Junior guard Nikki Frederickson added eight points of her own, pulling down seven rebounds, while senior Samantha Loadman accounted for 12 Laker points and eight rebounds.



Since joining the PSAC three years ago, the Lakers have not lost an opening game in divisional play, beating Slippery Rock twice prior.

Sharay Hall sank a layup one minute into the game, scoring the game's first points for Lock Haven.

Mercyhurst sophomore forward Kaylee Foster tied the game up 30 seconds later on a jumper in the paint.

The two teams played the next 10 minutes tough, exchanging leads five times. The Lakers held on to their lead after the nine minute mark when Achesinski drained a layup.

Mercyhurst added to its lead, pulling ahead six after sophomore Dana Banda and Achesinski made consecutive layups.

Good free-throw shooting and a couple Laker turnovers allowed the Bald Eagles to pull within one, just under the two minute mark. The senior poise of Achesinski and Loadman at the end of the half gave Mercyhurst a six point lead heading into the locker room.

Achesinski's perfection from the field (6-6) and 2-for-5 free-throw performance in the first half accounted for 14 of the Lakers' 38 points. Loadman drained 80 percent of her shots from the 3-point arc (4-5), scoring 12 points.

As a team, Mercyhurst shot 75 percent from the field (15-20) and 67 percent from beyond the arc (4-6).

Sharay Hall led the Bald Eagles' offense in the first half, scoring 16 of the teams 32 points. The team shot 42 percent from the field (13-31) and 36 percent from 3-point land (3-8).

The Lakers carried their first half momentum into the start of the second half, scoring the first four points and extending their lead to 10. Lock Haven would not be able to find an answer for the Laker attack as Mercyhurst continued to pull away.

Megan Hoffman's 3-pointer with 13:30 left in the game sparked a Mercyhurst 10-1 run, putting the game out of reach for the Bald Eagles.

Kristen Kudrick and Peaches Nesmith battled hard for Lock Haven the remainder of the half, keeping the team within 10 points of the Lakers.

However, Banda, Achesinski and Hoffman put the final nail in the coffin, combining for 11-straight points with three minutes left in the game, extending the Lakers' lead to 22.

Hoffman finished the game with nine points and three rebounds, while Foster added seven points of her own.

The Lakers shot a season-high 59.6 percent from the field (28-47), while tying a season-high from the arc, 50 percent (7-14).

Mercyhurst moves to 9-7 on the season, 1-0 in PSAC West play.

The Lakers are back in action this Saturday, Jan. 15, as they host the California University (Pa.) Vulcans at 1 p.m.

Mercyhurst defeats Mansfield, 75-63


ERIE, Pa. – Senior Amy Achesinski and sophomore Kaylee Foster led the Lakers offensively, as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team defeated Mansfield University, 75-63.

Achesinski recorded her sixth double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 25 points while pulling in 13 rebounds. Foster had the second highest point total with 16. She is one of three Lakers on the evening with three steals (Samantha Loadman and Megan Hoffman).

Achesinski has now successfully reached double-digits in points in 12 out of 13 games this season, making today her 11th straight. Senior guard Samantha Loadman set a new career-high in assists, dishing out seven.

Mansfield scored the first points of the game three minutes into the half, giving them the early momentum. Tegan Atallah sank one from the arc pushing the Mounties' lead to five with just under 15 minutes left to play.



Dana Banda gave the game its second tie (11-11) just under the 10-minute mark on a jumper in the paint. Mercyhurst managed to rally off this basket and take its first lead on a 3-pointer by sophomore forward Lindsey Burke.

Burke drained a jumper and Achesinski sank two consecutive layups, pushing the Laker lead to six. Megan Touhey chopped that lead in half on a 3-pointer to keep it close for the Mountaineers.

Foster scored seven of the next 10 points for the Lakers giving them a 13-point advantage over Mansfield. She added another 3-pointer to give Mercyhurst its biggest lead of the half (16 points).

The Mountaineers added a couple late baskets, with efforts from Jena Matter and Nicole Pender, ending the half with a 13-point deficit (37-24).

Foster led the Lakers with 12 points in the first half. Achesinski enforced the paint with nine boards. As a team, Mercyhurst shot 42 percent from the field (15-36). Loadman added three assists.

Mallory Moore headed the offensive attack for Mansfield, scoring seven points and pulling in five rebounds. The Mountaineers shot 35 percent from the field (7-20) and 33 percent from the arc (2-6).

Mansfield rallied early, cutting the Laker lead to seven, three minutes into the second half. The two teams exchanged baskets the next four minutes until a Nikki Frederickson 3-point play sparked a Mercyhurst run.

Loadman sank her only 3-pointer of the game to give the Lakers a 15-point lead at the 14:22 mark. Moore scored five points over the next five minutes, giving the Mountaineers a late push. However, this wouldn't be enough as Achesinski and Banda answered with seven points combined, putting the game out of reach.

A layup by Achesinski at the 5:10 mark gave the Lakers their biggest lead of the game (18). Freshman Kristi Ewanick scored her first points for Mercyhurst with 16 seconds remaining, solidifying a 12-point victory for the Lakers.

Head coach Deanna Richard earned her 97th career win, guiding Mercyhurst to a 7-7 record. All-time, Mercyhurst is 15-0 against Mansfield.

Burke set a new career-high in assists with four, while sophomore Kelsey Trosch added four points, tying her career-high.

The Lakers shot 46 percent from the field (31-67) and 25 percent from 3-point land (6-24).

Moore and Pender combined for 30 points, leading Mansfield's offense. The Mountaineers shot just 38 percent from the field (19-50) and 42 percent from beyond the arc (5-12).

Mercyhurst hosts the Bloomsburg University Huskies tomorrow at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Tip off is set for 1 pm.

Mercyhurst Wins Fourth Straight, Beating Mansfield 70-51

David Haurin, Athletics Communication Intern12/7/2010 12:19:48 AM

ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst College women's basketball team scored 70 against Mansfield University to win their fourth consecutive game.

The Lakers (4-4) used an all-around team effort to outscore the Mountaineers (4-2), 70-51. The Lakers were led by senior forward Amy Achesinski, who turned in her fourth consecutive double-double, scoring a game-high 16 points while pulling in a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard Samantha Loadman added 14 points and three blocked shots while sophomore Kaylee Foster posted her own season-high 14 points.

The Mountaineers played the Lakers tough for the first eight minutes, as the Lakers' biggest lead was only 4. Loadman managed to take over the game for the next three minutes, scoring 12 consecutive points for the Lakers on four straight 3-point attempts. This allowed the Lakers to jump out to a 33-23 lead with 7:30 left to play in the first half.



The Mountaineers battled back cutting the lead to seven as time expired in the first half. Megan Touhey led the Mountaineer offense in the first half, scoring 10 points, including 2-for-2 from the line.

The Lakers' lead was cut to five on a layup by Mansfield's Nicole Pender three minutes into the second half. Mercyhurst's Megan Hoffman would score the next five points for the Lakers extending their lead back to 10.

It would be all Mercyhurst for the next seven minutes as the team went on an 11-0 run, pushing its lead to 20. This would be all the Lakers needed to solidify the victory over the Mountaineers.

Touhey led the Mountaineer offense with 11 points. Mansfield shot a season low 19 percent from the field in the second half, scoring only 15 points. As a team, the Mountaineers shot 70 percent from the line and went 2-for-16 from the arc.

Mercyhurst managed to score its second highest total of the year, shooting 51 percent from the field. The Lakers also went 6-for-8 from the line and 8-for-22 from the arc.

The Lakers travel to Notre Dame College where they will take on the Falcons Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.

Lakers' Four Game Winning Streak Snapped by Notre Dame College, 73-66


SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College snaps Mercyhurst College's four game winning-streak, 73-66.

The Laker offense was led by sophomore guard Dana Banda who turned in a season-high 23 points on the night. Senior forward Amy Achesinski aided Mercyhurst's efforts, recording her fifth straight double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Samantha Loadman added six points in the Laker defeat.

The Lakers took an early lead, starting the game on a 5-0 run. This lead wouldn't last long as Notre Dame battled back, tying the game up 11-11 with 13 minutes left to play in the first half.

Mercyhurst regained the lead on a Megan Hoffman 3-pointer with just 10 minutes left in the half. The Lakers held the lead, with it's biggest margin being 7 points until Notre Dame's Kealy McNally tied the game on a 3-pointer with 3 minutes left to play.



Mercyhurst's lead slipped away as the Falcons pulled ahead 7 to close the first half.

The Lakers battled in the opening of the second half, keeping the Falcon lead close. Nikki Frederickson's game-tying lay-up with 10 minutes left to play gave the Lakers some momentum. They were able to capture the lead on a Kaylee Foster jumper, but were not able to hang on.

The Falcons pulled away, going on a 8-0 with six minutes left to play. It would be all Notre Dame from here, as they jumped out to a game-high 10 point lead.

Mercyhurst was able to cut that lead to six, but the clock was not in its favor. The Falcons free throw shooting under two minutes to play, solidified the win for Notre Dame, shooting 3-3 from the line.

The Lakers shot 43 percent from the field, and 65 percent from the line.

The Falcons shot 47 percent from the field and 65 percent from the line. Yvette Hunter led the Falcon attack with 14 points. Taryn Wicks added her own 12 points while Kealy McNally and Alex Dackin each added 10 points respectively.

Mercyhurst moves to 4-5 on the season, and will travel to West Virginia to take on West Virginia Wesleyan Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.

Lakers Crush The Rock, 60-46


SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Sophomore Dana Banda and senior Amy Achesinski scored in double-figures as the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team powered past Slippery Rock, 60-46. Achesinski finished the game one rebound shy of a double-double, ending with a game-high 15 points. This keeps her consecutive streak of scoring 10 or more alive. Defensively, she finished with nine boards and two blocked shots.

Banda ended with a second-best 14 points, but more impressively dished out five assists. This moves her single season total to 69.

Slippery Rock jumped out to an early six-point lead, scoring the first three baskets. Achesinski answered with a layup of her own, cutting the Rock lead to four at the 15:48 mark.

A Rock 7-2 run, ending with a Bethany Caudill layup increased that lead to nine, with just over 11 minutes to play in the half.



Sophomore Kaylee Foster added a jumper and a free-throw at the 10:14 mark cutting Slippery Rock's lead. However, Rock's Marlynda Harland had other plans, pushing their lead to double-figures (10).

The Lakers rallied late with an Achesinski layup, sparking a 10-0 run which tied the game up at 17-17, just under five minutes in the first. During this run, four different Mercyhurst players added points, highlighted by the five-point effort of Banda (Nikki Frederickson 2, Achesinski 2, Abby Allen 1).

Alex Beatty quickly answered for the Rock, retaking the lead with 3:57 left in the first half. Frederickson and Allen each added a free-throw tying the game back up at 19.

Three consecutive free-throws by Slippery Rock gave them a three-point advantage under the 1:00 mark. Achesinski scored the half's final two baskets under 22 seconds giving Mercyhurst a one-point lead heading into the locker room.

Achesinski led the Lakers in the first half with eight points. Banda added five points and two steals, allowing Mercyhurst to gain momentum heading into the half.

The Lakers shot 40.9 percent from the field (9-22) and just 16.7 percent from the arc (1-6). Highlighting the Rock in the first half was Emilee Vitez and Marlynda Harland who scored six and five points respectively.

Slippery Rock missed all five of their 3-point attempts and only made 8-20 attempts from the field (40 percent).

Mercyhurst carried that first-half momentum with them, starting the second half on an 11-4 run, giving them the eight-point advantage at the 13:48 mark. Megan Hoffman drained a 3-pointer and Achesinski and Samantha Loadman each added baskets completing the run.

Harland laid one off the glass, making it a two-possession game for the Rock, however, Hoffman sank a three giving the Lakers a nine-point lead.

Mercyhurst continued to pack on the lead, as Hoffman made yet another 3-pointer, followed by a Banda layup, giving the Lakers a double-figure lead for the first time (12) with 11 minutes left in the game.

The two teams exchanged baskets the next three minutes, until a Kelsey Trosch jumper sparked a Mercyhurst 11-0 run, putting the game out of reach for the Rock.

Banda swished a 3-pointer to finish the run, giving the Lakers its biggest lead of the game (18 points).

Slippery Rock made a couple late baskets, but it was too late, as Mercyhurst's Trosch drained a last second jumper, finalizing the Lakers' victory 60-46.

This is Mercyhurst's ninth victory of 10 points or more this season, and third in PSAC West play. Overall, the Lakers post an 11-8 record, 3-1 in conference action.

The Rock moves to 2-14 on the season, 0-4 in PSAC West action. Harland and Sherita Stanley led the Slippery Rock attack, each scoring double-figures in the loss (Harland 12, Stanley 11).

The Lakers are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 26, as they travel across town to take on arch rival Gannon University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

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