Gannon Basketball Seniors
Joe Mattis
Gannon fans honored the basketball program's 10 seniors during pregame senior night festivities.
62
Winner Mercyhurst MER-W 14-14,12-10 PSAC
54
Gannon University GAN-W 16-10, 14-8 PSAC
Winner
Mercyhurst MER-W
14-14,12-10 PSAC
62
Final
54
Gannon University GAN-W
16-10, 14-8 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Mercyhurst MER-W 12 10 15 25 62
Gannon University GAN-W 14 8 10 22 54

Next Game:

Seton Hill University (Pa.)

2/27/2016 | 2 p.m.

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 27 (Sat) / 2 p.m.
 Seton Hill University (Pa.)

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Women's Basketball Team Concludes Regular-Season; Hosts Seton Hill Saturday in PSAC Tournament First Round (Video/Photos)

THE RUNDOWN
  • Score: Mercyhurst 62, at Gannon 54
  • Records: Gannon (16-10, 14-8 PSAC), Mercyhurst (14-14, 12-10 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
  • The Short Story: The Mercyhurst women's basketball team snapped a 22-22 halftime tie by out-scoring Gannon 40-32 during the second half and ended a nine-game losing streak in the all-time series with a 62-54 victory Wednesday night at the Hammermill Center.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After both teams split the first 16 points, Gannon generated the game's first run with six consecutive points.
  • Senior Jennie Thies (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern) started the run with a lay-up, before senior Morgan Neighbors (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) drilled a triple and freshman Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) sank a free throw to give the Lady Knights a 14-8 lead with 2:07 left in the first half.
  • Mercyhurst went two minutes and 50 seconds without a point, but managed a pair of baskets during the final 1:43 of the first quarter to cut the deficit to 14-12.
  • The Lakers opened the second quarter with a free throw and jumper to forge ahead 15-14. It began a stretch that saw three lead changes and three ties during the final 7:22 of the first half.
  • Gannon immediately answered with a free throw by junior Lanise Saunders (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) and lay-up by Neighbors to regain the lead at 17-15. Saunders' free throw was the Lady Knights' first points in five minutes and five seconds while Neighbors' basket was Gannon's first field goal in six minutes and 47 seconds.
  • Trailing 22-20, junior Brianna Brennan (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven) converted a lay-up with 44 seconds left to send the teams into the break deadlocked. It represented the seventh tie of the first half.
  • The second half started with six lead changes and one tie during the opening five minutes.
  • Mercyhurst took the lead for good on Natalie Piaggesi's lay-up midway through the quarter. The shot ignited a 7-0 run.
  • LaCava later hit a buzzer-beater put-back, cutting the deficit to 37-32 after three quarters.
  • Leading 43-39, Mercyhurst surged ahead with six consecutive points to create a double-digit lead.
  • Gannon answered with five straight points from Saunders, including a put-back while being fouled. Her jumper brought the Lady Knights within 49-44 at the 3:59 mark.
  • However, Adrienne Kloecker  fired home a three-pointer on Mercyhurst's next possession and Gannon was unable to get closer than six points the rest of the way.

GAME NOTES
  • Neighbors was Gannon's leading scorer for the second consecutive game and ninth time this season with 14 points and four rebounds.
  • Brennan and Shives added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
  • Gannon shot 35.1 percent (20-57) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-21) from three-point range and 64.3 percent (9-14) from the free throw line.
  • Piaggesi was unstoppable for Mercyhurst, going off for 30 points and five rebounds. The junior forward hit her first seven shots, before finishing 13-of-14 from the field.
  • Kloecker was the only other Laker in double digits, scoring 13 points in 32 minutes off the bench.
  • Mercyhurst shot 43.4 percent (23-53) from the floor, 28.6 percent (4-14) from behind the arc and 57.1 percent (12-21) from the charity stripe. 
  • The contest featured eight ties and 11 lead changes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon clinched the PSAC Western Division's third seed despite the loss due to Edinboro's 83-52 loss at California (Pa.). The Lady Knights will face sixth seed Seton Hill in the PSAC Tournament first round after the Griffins knocked off Indiana (Pa.) 68-54 at home.
  • Mercyhurst snapped a nine-game losing streak against Gannon. The Lakers defeated the Lady Knights for the first time since a 66-56 victory at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on February 16, 2010.
  • In contrast to a 10-4 road record, Gannon dropped to 6-6 at the Hammermill Center.
  • Thies moved past Monica Bortz (1999-02) and into 35th place on Gannon's all-time scoring chart with 804 career points.
  • Senior Amanda Berchtold (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) jumped over Pam Bonadio (1980-81) and into eighth place in school history with 379 career assists.
  • Thies bumped her season rebounding total to 330, giving her the third-highest single-season total in school history. She needs 25 rebounds to break Gannon Hall of Famer Mary Kay Lynch's record of 354 during the 1983-84 season.
  • Wednesday was Senior Night as Berchtold, LaShawna Gatewood (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg), Marisa Guyton (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport), Neighbors and Thies were honored during Senior Night festivities prior to the men's game.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon opens the postseason Saturday, February 27 by hosting a PSAC Tournament first-round game against Seton Hill at the Hammermill Center.
  • Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
  • The contest can be heard live on 90.5 WERG and online at www.wergfm.com.
  • Season ticket holders who didn't renew their seats during Wednesday's doubleheader can still renew their seats for the women's first-round game Thursday, February 25 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Gannon Recreation and Wellness Center located at 130 West Fourth Street. Fans are asked to enter through the front door on Fourth Street.
  • Any non-renewed seats by the end of Thursday will be made available to the general public Friday, February 26 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Gannon Recreation and Wellness Center. General Admission will also be available both days. Only cash or checks will be accepted.
  • Tickets prices set by the PSAC for Saturday's first-round game are $10 for reserved seating, $7 for adult general admission and $2 for student/senior citizen general admission. Students at Gannon and the other participating school will be admitted free of charge with their school ID. Ticket windows open Saturday at 1 p.m.
  • Gannon and Seton Hill split the 2015-16 regular-season season series. The Griffins posted a 62-49 victory at the Hammermill Center on January 16, before the Lady Knights returned the favor with a 62-44 road win on February 10.
  • Head coach Jim Brunelli club leads the all-time series 6-1, including a 2-1 mark at the 'Mill.
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Players Mentioned

Amanda Berchtold

#5 Amanda Berchtold

G
5' 4"
Senior
Sports Mgt. & Marketing
Brianna Brennan

#10 Brianna Brennan

F
6' 1"
Junior
Early Childhood Education
Marisa Guyton

#21 Marisa Guyton

F
6' 0"
Senior
Advertising Communications
Morgan Neighbors

#12 Morgan Neighbors

G
5' 9"
Senior
Business Admin.
Lanise Saunders

#54 Lanise Saunders

C
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Electrical Engineering
Jennie Thies

#14 Jennie Thies

F/C
6' 1"
Senior
Biology
Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

F
6' 0"
Freshman
Physician Assistant
LaShawna Gatewood

#35 LaShawna Gatewood

G
5' 10"
Senior
Criminal Justice

Players Mentioned

Amanda Berchtold

#5 Amanda Berchtold

5' 4"
Senior
Sports Mgt. & Marketing
G
Brianna Brennan

#10 Brianna Brennan

6' 1"
Junior
Early Childhood Education
F
Marisa Guyton

#21 Marisa Guyton

6' 0"
Senior
Advertising Communications
F
Morgan Neighbors

#12 Morgan Neighbors

5' 9"
Senior
Business Admin.
G
Lanise Saunders

#54 Lanise Saunders

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Electrical Engineering
C
Jennie Thies

#14 Jennie Thies

6' 1"
Senior
Biology
F/C
Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

6' 0"
Freshman
Physician Assistant
F
LaShawna Gatewood

#35 LaShawna Gatewood

5' 10"
Senior
Criminal Justice
G