SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but was unable to maintain its lead as Mercyhurst University rallied to defeat The Rock, 67-48, Wednesday night at Morrow Field House.
The loss drops Slippery Rock's record to 9-15 overall and 6-12 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition. Mercyhurst improves to 18-5 overall and 13-4 in league play with the win.
C.C. Dixon led Slippery Rock with 15 points, four rebounds and two steals against the Lakers.
Cassidy Wright came off the bench to score 11 points while
Brooke Hinderliter nearly produced a double-double of nine points and nine rebounds to go with four assists.
The trio of
Morgan Henderson,
Mallory Heinle and
LeeAnn Gibson grabbed six rebounds each with Gibson also scoring four points.
SRU scored just six points in the first quarter and trailed by seven, 13-6, through the opening 10 minutes of play. However, Slippery Rock regrouped and came alive in the second period, outscoring Mercyhurst 22-8 to take a 28-21 lead into the halftime break.
The Rock was nearly automatic in the second quarter, making 58 percent of its field goal attempts while forcing four Mercyhurst turnovers and holding the Lakers to just three made field goals in 14 attempts. Dixon and Wright each scored six points in the second quarter.
SRU proceeded to push its lead out to as many as 10 points at 38-28 midway through the third quarter before Mercyhurst finally found its offensive stride over the final five minutes of the third quarter as it made 6-of-8 field goals, three of which were 3-pointers. Slippery Rock couldn't respond, committing four turnovers and shooting just 1-of-6 from the field and the Lakers took a 42-40 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Rock was unable to return to its second quarter form in the fourth and Mercyhurst was able to extend its lead out to 14 points, 58-44, with five minutes left to play in regulation before closing the game on a 9-4 spurt en route to the 67-48 win.
Slippery Rock held advantages over Mercyhurst in rebounding (41-38) and turnovers forced (15-13) in addition to recording a near season-high 20 offensive rebounds, which it turned into 19 second chance points. However, SRU suffered through its worst shooting day of the year as The Rock made just 27.9 percent (17-of-61) of its field goals and 18.2 percent (4-of-22) of its 3-point attempts. As has been the case all season, Slippery Rock was solid at the free throw line, making 71.4 percent (10-of-14) of its attempts at the foul ine.
The Lakers shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field overall, 39.3 percent (11-of-28) at the 3-point line and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from the foul line. Mercyhurst went 16-for-26 from the field in the second half. Jalin Steel had 29 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lakers.
Slippery Rock will look to snap its five-game losing streak Feb. 15 at Clarion University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
