ERIE, Pa. —  The Marauders traveled up to Erie on Tuesday afternoon looking to bounce back against the Lakers after a tough loss at Edinboro on Monday. They certainly did just that in the first half, taking the lead on the first possession and holding it for the next 30 minutes. Mercyhurst then turned the tables on the visitors in the second half before eventually exiting with a 70-53 victory. 
 
Kira Mowen went with two new starters in Madison Grubb and Juliana Vinlaun and the decision paid immediate dividends. Grubb started off the game with a made layup and then assisted La'Shyra Williams on a three-point play. The Marauders then extended that advantage to 15-6 after Makiah Shaw got to work. Shaw accounted for eight of those 15 points on four of five from the field, with two layups and two jumpshots. 
 
The Marauders kept the Lakers at bay through the remainder of the half, never allowing them to make it a one-possession game. The Marauders controlled the half through efficient shooting and limiting turnovers. They shot 50 percent from the field and won the turnover battle, committing just six turnovers to the Lakers' eight. The visitors also owned the painted area, evidenced by a 28-14 advantage in points in the paint. 
 
Millersville kept that dominance up after the stoppage, pushing its lead to 13 at the midway point. Mercyhurst responded immediately. They took advantage of some Marauder mistakes and put together a 12-0 run to close out the third quarter. The main culprit was turnovers, as Millersville gave it away 10 times in the period, almost twice as many as the first half. During that run, six of seven Marauder possessions ended with a turnover, equaling their first half total. That Laker run would continue in the fourth and they would go on to claim the 70-53 victory. 

GAME NOTES

• With the loss, Millersville's record in the rivalry moves to 7-5. The program's mark when playing in Erie falls below .500 at 2-3. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Grubb recorded her first career start while Vinlaun tallied her first career start as a Marauder after transferring over from Knox College this offseason. Shaw and Brenna Ortwein are now the only two players to start every game so far. 
• With 17 points, Shaw notched her team-high fifth game reaching double figures. Williams was one point short of doing the same, finishing with nine. 

POSTGAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH KIRA MOWEN

• On what led to the strong start: "I think rest from yesterday and confidence in our shot. We were clicking on all cylinders in the first half, and we eliminated those turnovers that became deadly in the second-in the first we only had six."
• On the changes to the starting five: "Today it changed because I thought we needed a quick change up and I wanted to see if I can get other people hot off the bat. It worked out in the first couple minutes, but I still have to find ways to motivate those people who don't start to stay fresh and consistent for a whole game."

UP NEXT

• Millersville enters a long layoff with just one more game before the new year. That would be against Gannon in Millersville on Dec. 30 at 1 p.m.