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ERIE – A 17-4 second half run broke open a tight game and sent the Bloomsburg women's basketball team to its second Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover win in as many nights, 71-63, over Mercyhurst on Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Huskies (7-2) shot 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the floor during the second half while sealing victory.

After controlling the majority of the first half, the Huskies saw Mercyhurst seize momentum to begin the second period. The Lakers (2-7) rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the first half to take the lead by a point on a free throw from Alayna White with 10:41 remaining in the contest. It would be Mercyhurst's only lead of the night.

Bloomsburg re-gained the advantage on a pretty spin move in the lane from Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) and, following a defensive stop, pulled ahead 49-45 on a fast-break lay-in from Sadowski off a feed from Brianna Dudeck (Sugarloaf/Hazleton). The back-to-back baskets from Sadowski ignited the game-changing run for the Huskies that turned a tie game into a 13-point Bloomsburg lead over a span of five and a half minutes.

Bloomsburg built a controlling lead during the first half, never trailing and stretching its lead to double digits for the first time following an 11-2 break capped on a 3-pointer from Marla Simmons (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) to stretch the Huskies' edge to 26-15 with four minutes to go in the opening stanza.

The Huskies threatened to blow the game open multiple times during the first half, but Mercyhurst was able to claw its way to a 31-23 score at halftime. Simmons powered the visitors during the opening 20 minutes with a game-high nine points on four-of-six shooting from the floor.

Mercyhurst scored the first five points following intermission as part of a 9-3 break before the first media timeout of the second half to close to within 34-32. A give-and-go from Morgan Klunk (Felton/York Catholic) to Sadowski gave Bloomsburg a five-point lead (40-35), but the Lakers refused to go away, completing their rally on White's free throw for their first lead of the game before the Huskies pulled away late.

Sadowski led the way offensively for Bloomsburg with 17 points along with six rebounds and three blocks. Catherine Noack (Bethlehem/Liberty) pitched in 15 points and Simmons finished with 10 points. Dudeck added nine points and six rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.

For the second straight night the Huskies were strong from the floor, shooting 48.9 percent (22-45) for the game.

Freshman Natalie Piaggesi registered a game-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting for the Lakers while White finished with 15 points and nine boards.

The Huskies return to action on Saturday in an intriguing final game before the holiday break at Nelson Field House when they host nationally-ranked Gannon in a re-match of last year's PSAC Championship Game. Saturday's game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip-off.