Late Run Propels Mercyhurst Past WJU

Lakers use 12-2 spurt to down Cardinals

BY NICK BEDWAY, For The Intelligencer

POSTED: December 8, 2008

Mara Dreiser's 3-pointer from deep in the left corner with just 39 seconds remaining capped a stunning 12-2 run during the game's closing minutes that gave invading Mercyhurst University a 63-58 women's basketball victory against Wheeling Jesuit University on Sunday night at the Alma Grace McDonough Center in Wheeling.

The Lady Cardinals, playing minus head coach Joe Key who was serving a one-game suspension after being ejected during a loss at Fairmont State on Nov.22, went ahead by five at 56-51 with 3:20 remaining when junior forward Kim Mueller leaped in to rebound a missed shot and underhand the ball high off the glass and into the basket.

But the Lakers sliced the lead to two points as Stephanie Prischak drained a triple from the left wing and Amy Achesinski worked her way inside for a one-hander that knotted the score at 56-56 with 2:20 to play. Megan Stuvek provided Wheeling Jesuit a one-point edge by hitting the front end of a two-shot foul only to see another slick inside move and kiss off the glass by Achesinski put Mercyhurst in front, 58-57. Stuvek received a second opportunity at the foul line with 1:07 remaining and again managed to hit just one of two attempts, tying he score for the final time.

On their next possession, the Lakers got a huge break when an offensive foul wasn't called out front and the ball wound up in the hands of Dreiser in the corner. With time winding down on the shot clock, Drieser's set shot ended with the ball splashing cleanly through the cords, putting Mercyhurst ahead to stay.

Wheeling Jesuit, needing a triple to tie, had difficulty getting an open look before the arc as the Laker defenders applied a lot of pressure out front. Finally, Shayla Holenka's rushed attempt from the right wing came up short as the ball bounced off the front of the rim. Achesinski, the 6-1 sophomore forward from Butler, Pa., was fouled with 4.4 seconds remaining and she capped off a 23-point, seven-rebound performance by hitting both free throws to wrap up the scoring.

Missed free throws, layups and a dismal 1 of 19 effort from behind the arc doomed the Cardinals to their second straight defeat after they had opened the season with a pair of victories.

''Three-point shots. Bunny after bunny. Layup after layup. We missed them,'' said Katie Hine, Wheeling Jesuit's assistant coach who directed the team during Key's absence. ''This is hard to admit but our girls were softer than their girls (Sunday). They wanted it more than we did.''

Hine also was disappointed with the Cardinals lack of success at the foul line. The hosts made only 11 of their 22 attempts.

''We missed a lot of free throws early," Hine said. "If we make some, we could have been up.''

Although Mercyhurst came to town with just a 1-3 record this season, no one on Wheeling's side took the Lakers lightly.

''This is a very good basketball team,'' Hine said. "In the last week they played West Virginia Wesleyan, Northern Kentucky and West Virginia University. They deserve a lot of credit for playing such a tough pre-season schedule before they get into their league play.'' '

Mercyhurst, which was 7 of 19 from 3-point range, showed its outside potential early. After Wheeling Jesuit had opened the game with transition buckets by Lindsay Stuckey and Bridget Buskirk, the Lakers got successive triples from Samantha Loadman, Prischak and Janeale Ronai to gain a lead they would maintain the remainder of the half. Stevie Spetoskey's home-run ball later gave Mercyhurst its largest advantage 28-19 at the 7-minute mark.

However, Stuckey would score 11 of her team-high 20 points during the remainder of the half to rally the Cardinals to within 37-36.

Early in the second half, with Mercyhurst holding a 42-37 advantage, the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run to go in front. Stuckey's three-point play and Holenka's nice move to the basket tied the game. The Wheeling Jesuit offense, looking its best at this point in the game, continued to flourish on buckets from Stuckey and Buskirk for a 46-42 lead.

Prischak's 3-pointer halted the Mercyhurst slide but the Cardinals stayed ahead until the final stages when Achesinski and Dreiser bailed out the Lakers.

''Lindsey Stuckey played very well for us,'' Hine said. ''She kind of took charge, not necessarily forcing her way inside but in creating shots for herself and for other people.''

Stuvek was the only other Cardinal reaching double figures as she tossed in 10 points to go with 10 rebounds. Mueller also pulled down 10 missed shots, although Mercyhurst won the battle underneath the glass 44-40.

Achesinski was the Lakers only double-digit scorer.

Wheeling Jesuit's next game is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday when the Cardinals play host to West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Salem International. WJU, 2-2 overall, will be attempting to square its league mark at 1-1 with a victory against the Lady Tigers.