SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team couldn't overcome an early 15-point deficit against Mercyhurst University Wednesday night in a 80-65 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division loss at Morrow Field House.
 
The loss snaps The Rock's three-game winning streak and drops their record to 7-4 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Lakers improved to 5-8 overall and 3-4 in conference competition with the win.
 
Junior guard Audrey Stapleton led all Rock players with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and a 2-for-2 effort from the foul line.

Senior guard Erica Aiello and sophomore guard Ciara Patterson scored 11 points apiece, but combined to shoot just 8-for-28 from the field. Defensively, Patterson came up with a career-best five steals. Junior guard Lexi Carpenter chipped in eight points thanks in part to a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the foul line to go with a game-high seven assists.
 
Sophomore reserve forward Mallory Heinle came just short of a double-double with six points and eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Krista Pietropola and freshman forward Morgan Henderson each came off the bench to score seven points as well. The Rock's bench outscored the Lakers' reserves 32-18.
 
SRU was able to cut the Lakers' lead down to as little as six points on two separate occasions in the second half, but each time Mercyhurst was able to hold off The Rock's comeback win.
 
Slippery Rock outscored Mercyhurst 44-36 over the second and third quarters while only being outscored by the Lakers 24-16 in the fourth quarter. However, a first quarter in which Mercyhurst jumped out to a 20-5 lead proved too much for Slippery Rock to overcome.
 
For the game, Mercyhurst shot 48.2 percent (27-for-56) from the field while holding SRU to a 33.8 (22-for-65) shooting percentage. The Lakers hit 11 3-pointers on 23 attempts (47.8 percent). Mercyhurst also held a 43-32 edge on SRU in rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock committed just six turnovers while forcing the Lakers into 14 miscues of their own. Additionally, SRU was 14-for-16 from the free throw line.
 
Angela Heintz and Natalie Piaggesi both produced double-doubles for Mercyhurst in the win. Heintz had 24 points and 12 rebounds while Piaggesi registered 22 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock will look to rebound from the defeat with a win 1 p.m. Saturday against Seton Hill University at Morrow Field House.