Box Score This is the season of second helpings. Two days after Thanksgiving, the AU women's basketball team used some second half, second helpings to subdue Mercyhurst.
Saturday (Nov. 30) in Erie, Pa., the Eagles shook free from a 23-23 halftime tie to defeat the Lakers, 60-47. In the second half, AU outscored the home team, 37-24. Over the last 3:27, the Eagles limited the Lakers to four points.
The win gives the Eagles a 2-1 record. This coming Thursday (Dec. 5, 6 p.m.) the Eagles begin GLIAC play at Grand Valley State.
Ashland shot 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the floor in the second half Saturday. Guard McKenzie Miller scored nine of her team-high 15 points in the second half. Freshman guard Kelsey Peare, came off the bench to score 11 points, nine after halftime. Forward Suzy Wollenhaupt had 10 points and guard Alyssa Miller had nine points and eight rebounds.
AU grabbed the lead for good, 29-28 on a layup by Wollenhaupt with 15:51 to play in the game. With 11:23 remaining in regulation AU was in front, 38-36. The Eagles went on a 6-0 run to take a 44-36 lead. With 5:35 to play AU led, 47-39.
The Lakers' Adrienne Kloecker hit a jumper with 3:27 to go and Mercyhust (1-3) was down by just 49-45. However, the Lakers didn't score again until Alayna White dropped in a layup with 46 seconds to play. At that point Ashland led, 58-47.
AU was outrebounded, 41-29, but overcame that deficit by excelling in several other areas. The Eagles led in points in the paint, 34-22 and had a 23-6 edge in points off of turnovers. In the second half the Eagles had four turnovers. For the game, AU had 12 turnovers compared to 23 for the Lakers.
AU enjoyed a 10-2 spread in fastbreak points and as usual, the Eagles helped themselves at the free throw line, going 5-of-6.
White had 17 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Lakers. Kloecker had 13 points and four rebounds.
AU
WBB/ALK
