Box Score

Millersville, Pa. — The Millersville women's basketball team has made a habit out of shutting down opposing offenses this season. The Marauders' stifling defense claimed yet another victim on Sunday afternoon, holding Mercyhurst to its lowest scoring output of the season in a 69-40 rout at Pucillo Gymnasium.

Mary Fleig's bunch continued to bounce back from a three-game losing streak, winning their third straight in dominating fashion. Millersville (10-3) was hot from the get-go, scoring 11 of the first 12 points to open a double-digit lead 4:58 into the contest. Six players combined to get the Marauders their first seven buckets, with only Jenna Craig scoring twice in the span. Mercyhurst (8-4), down by 15 at the 12:02 mark, managed to cut the lead to seven during the middle stages of the half as the Marauders could only muster two points over a stretch of 6:22.

The Black and Gold was able to regain its 15-point advantage with a quick 9-1 run, while the Lakers found points tough to come by with leading scorer Amy Achesinski bottled up by MU defenders wherever she turned. The 6-foot-1 Achesinski ended up with a team-high 12 points for Mercyhurst, and joined the school's 1,000-point club late in the game but otherwise experienced a frustrating afternoon in which she shot just 2-of-9 from the floor.

Coming into play on Sunday, the Marauders were averaging 15 steals per contest. They continued to hawk the ball, registering 12 more in the first half against the Lakers. Not only did they create opportunities, they converted them. Millersville was plus-12 (17-5) in the turnover department over the first 20 minutes, and turned it into a 20-1 advantage in points off of turnovers to lead 33-20 at the break.

Mercyhurst entered the game against MU riding a seven-game winning streak. Yesterday the Lakers picked up a solid road win over PSAC Eastern Division pre-season favorite, West Chester, but any momentum the visiting team had accrued on Saturday quickly diminished inside Pucillo Gymnasium. A 9-0 run by the Marauders stretched their lead to 22 early in the second half and Mercyhurst would not get the get within 20 over the final 16 minutes.

Raquel Green and Mashira Newman each scored 10 points to pace a balanced MU attack. Green, a senior, and Newman, a redshirt freshman, have both scored in double-figures in each of the last four games. Ashley Moyer added eight, as did Gabrielle Styles who put forth one of her best offensive efforts of the season. Styles nailed her first 3-pointer in 42 career games late in the second half.

Outside of Achesinksi's 12 points and Kaylee Foster's 10, Mercyhurst had no other player score more than four.

With non-conference play behind them, the Marauders open up PSAC Eastern Division play Wednesday when they host West Chester at 6 p.m.