Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University held Mercyhurst to 22.8 percent shooting and the Warriors led from start to finish, grinding out a 54-47 win in non-conference women's basketball on Saturday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The Warriors (6-5) closed the calendar year with a winning record for the first time since 2008-09 (5-4), thanks to a strong defensive effort and balanced scoring, with six players scoring at least six points.

Junior forward Jessica Martin had nine points and 11 rebounds before fouling out, freshman forward Allison Howard had six points and 11 boards, and junior guard Ryann Fiascki (8 points), freshman guard Audrey Stapleton (8 points, tied career-high), sophomore center Michelle Boggs (7 points) and sophomore guard Helena Gemmell (6 points) also contributed offensively.

Natalie Piagessi had 10 points and seven reobunds, Alayna White scored 10 points and Jessica Bell had eight points and 13 rebounds to lead Mercyhurst (2-8).

ESU jumped out to an 8-0 run in the first 3:30 and never trailed. The Warriors led 33-23 at halftime and 40-29 with 14 minutes left before the Lakers closed the margin to a single point (42-41) at the 10-minute mark.

Freshman guard Jackie Hillson gave ESU breathing room with a three-pointer and Boggs scored four straight points for a 7-0 run, and the Warriors held a 50-43 lead with 6:23 remaining.

ESU didn't score for almost six minutes, but kept Mercyhurst at bay on the defensive end. Fiascki made 2-of-3 free throws after being fouled on a three-pointer with 16.4 seconds left following an offensive rebound by Howard, and Gemmell made 2-for-2 with 2.5 seconds left for the final margin.

The Warriors held the Lakers to 13-for-57 shooting, and under 25 percent in each half – 6-for-27 (22.2) in the first half, and 7-for-30 (23.3) in the second. Mercyhurst was 4-for-19 from the three-point line.

Martin finished one point shy of her fourth straight double-double and added a blocked shot and three of the Warriors' nine steals.

ESU shot 51.9 percent (14-for-27) in the first half to lead 33-23 going into the locker room. The Warriors were 6-for-22 (27.3) in the second half to finish at just over 40 percent for the afternoon.

The Warriors went 2-1 this week, with a 70-68 (2OT) win at Slippery Rock on Tuesday, and a 66-56 loss at Edinboro on Wednesday.

They are away from action until January 3 and 4, hosting No. 2-ranked Gannon (12-0) on Friday and Clarion (4-5) on Saturday.