Video Highlights & Interviews

THE BASICS
Score: at Gannon 59, Mercyhurst 49
Records: Gannon (15-4, 14-2 PSAC), Mercyhurst (8-14, 5-11 PSAC)
Location: Erie, Pa.  |  Hammermill Center
The Short Story: The Gannon women's basketball team earned its eighth consecutive win in a 59-49 victory over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division rival Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon at the Hammermill Center in the eighth annual Pink Zone game. Beyond their win streak, the Lady Knights remain unbeaten in nine straight games at home this season. The Maroon and Gold also secured its 11th victory in the last 12 contests. Senior Nettie Blake (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) posted her ninth double-double of the season and 28th of her career with 19 points and a career-best 23 rebounds. Her rebound total came within one of tying the program's all-time single-game mark.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon and Mercyhurst exchanged the first four baskets for a 4-4 tied score just under three minutes into the contest. With the score knotted at four, the Lakers extended their scoring streak to 12 unanswered points to take a 14-4 lead with 13:59 left in the half. During the Lakers' stretch, the Lady Knights missed on four straight attempts from the field.
- Over the next 11 minutes, the Lady Knights erased the Lakers' lead. The Lady Knights worked Hurst's lead down to 22-17 with 6:46 left in the opening half. Following a layup by Sebald, Blake scored the next three points to tie the game at 22-22. The Lady Knights took a 24-22 following a Lakers' long-range attempt, leading to GU's first lead in the game since the opening three minutes. A jumper by junior Jennie Thies (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern) put the Lady Knights in the lead on an assist by junior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep), one of five for Berchtold on the afternoon.   
- A three from the Lakers' Mariah Penascino with 1:17 left gave the visiting squad a 25-24 lead. However, the Lady Knights capitalized on a Lakers' foul in the closing three seconds to put senior Brittany Batts (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County) at the line. Batts hit both attempts to hand the Lady Knights a 26-25 lead heading into the break.
- Holding a two-point lead just over three minutes into the second half, the Lady Knights erupted with a 12-0 run to take a 46-32 advantage with 11:12 left in the contest. The Lakers missed on all seven attempts including four from behind the arc. Batts buried consecutive long-range chances during the Lady Knights' run, as Blake scored the final five points in the stretch for the 46-32 lead.
- A three from the Lakers' Angela Heintz broke the Lady Knights' scoring streak. Following a layup from Heintz with 8:11 left in regulation, neither team scored another point for a stretch of over four minutes. The Lakers' struggle from the field spoiled any chances of a rally, as the teams went a combined 1-for-9. The lone bucket came on a layup from Sebald to put the Lady Knights ahead 54-39.
- Despite the Lakers scoring 10 of the final 15, including two threes from Alex Artise, the Lady Knights' double-digit lead was safe in the 59-49 victory.
 
GAME NOTES
- Blake led the Lady Knights' scoring for the eighth consecutive game. Registering 19 point and a career-best 23 rebounds, she collected her ninth double-double of the season and 28th of her career. Her 23 total rebounds came within one of tying the program mark (24) held by Mary Kay Lynch recorded against Edinboro Jan. 26, 1982. Fifteen of Blake's 23 boards came at the defensive end. She went 7-for-16 from the field and 5-of-11 in her visit to the foul line. She added an assist and a block in 30 minutes.
- Sebald scored 18 points and posted three rebounds and an assist in a season-best 35 minutes.
- Batts recorded 12 points, two assists and two rebounds in 28 minutes.
- The Lady Knights out-rebounded an opponent for the sixth consecutive game. The team finished with a dominant 47-28 advantage at the glass including Blake's 23.  
- Despite the outcome, the Lakers connected on a game-best 38.2-percent (21-55) of their chances from the field. The Lady Knights finished close behind at a clip of 37.3-percent (22-59). Both teams converted less than a quarter of their attempts from beyond the arc.
- The Lakers only had two chances at the foul line with both coming in the second half.
- The teams combined for 17 turnovers including the Lady Knights with eight and the Lakers with nine.
- Natalie Piaggesi led the Lakers in points (13) and rebounds (5).
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- This afternoon's contest marked the eighth annual Pink Zone game with proceeds distributed to local agencies Linked by Pink and Making Strides, who are committed in the fight against breast cancer. Winners of three straight Pink Zone games, the Lady Knights own a 6-2 mark at the event.
- The Lady Knights entered the game with $97,524 raised in the previous seven events. An official total raised will be announced at a later time.
- Gannon improved to 57-26 in the all-time series against Mercyhurst, winning eight consecutive meetings. The Lady Knights have won 10 of their last 11 games when hosting the Lakers at the Hammermill Center. GU has swept the Lakers in six of seven regular-season series.
- Earlier in the season, then-No. 13 Gannon outlasted host Mercyhurst in a 68-65 win Nov. 22, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. In the final five minutes of regulation, the Lady Knights pulled away with the win.
- Blake has posted double figures in eight straight games to lead the Lady Knights' scoring in each contest. She recorded a double-double in three straight games, a mark that former Lady Knight Brittany Tabron held from March 5, 2010, to March 12, 2010.
- At last season's Pink Zone game, Blake became the 25th Lady Knight in program history to record 1,000 career points, as the Lady Knights defeated Seton Hill, 64-53, at the Hammermill Center Feb. 1, 2014.
- When leading at the half, the Maroon and Gold moved to 13-0.
- Piaggesi and Adrienne Kloecker of the Lakers ranked among the top-20 scorers in the PSAC entering the game. Piaggesi led the Lakers with 13 points in the contest, while Kloecker scored her only basket late in the game to finish the day with two points.
- In the latest USA Today Sports Division II Coaches' Poll released Jan. 27, the Lady Knights were among others receiving votes.
 
UP NEXT
Gannon opens the final month of regular-season action with a trip down the I-79 corridor. In a rivalry battle for the second straight game, the Lady Knights take on Edinboro at the McComb Fieldhouse Feb. 4. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. to open the conference doubleheader.