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ERIE, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University women's basketball team got a career-high tying 11 points from sophomore, and Erie native, Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell), but it wasn't enough as the Huskies dropped a 66-46 decision at Mercyhurst University on Saturday afternoon. Bloomsburg dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division standings while the Lakers improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the PSAC West.

Molnar, however, was the only Bloomsburg player to finish in double figures as she connected on 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. She also tied a team-high with five rebounds in the loss.

The Huskies attempted only 39 shots in 40 minutes as the team turned the ball over 27 times and could muster only four offensive rebounds - three from freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer). Mercyhurst, meanwhile, took 18 more shot attempts and connected on ten of them - the difference in the game. The Lakers had a dozen offensive rebounds.

Senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) started the game with a three-pointer to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead. After Mercyhurst's Natalie Piaggesi hit a jumper, senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) converted a layup for a 5-2 lead. However, after Mercyhurst's Alex Artise hit a layup with 7:32 left in the first quarter to give the Lakers a 6-5 lead, the hosts never trailed again.

Mercyhurst built the lead to as many as eight points before settling for a 15-9 lead after the opening quarter.

The teams exchanged baskets throughout the second quarter and, when the dust settled, the margin was the same as it was after the first quarter as the Lakers led by six, 31-25, as the teams headed to the locker room.

Mercyhurst, however, began to pull away in the third quarter. After a pair of free throws from Corridoni cut the Lakers' lead to 35-29 with 8:12 remaining in the period, Mercyhurst went on a 15-2 run to take a 50-31 advantage with 4:19 left in the quarter. The only points during the Mercyhurst spurt came on a pair of foul shots from Klunk with 5:53 remaining. The Huskies went more than six minutes without a field goal during the quarter.

The Lakers built the lead to 27 points at the outset of the fourth quarter, 63-36, before the Huskies scored ten of the final 13 points for the final margin.

After Molnar, sophomore Casey Warley (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) was next on the team with a season-high seven points. Klunk and sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) were held to a total of 11 points  in the loss.

Piaggesi led Mercyhurst with 22 points on 11-of-14 from the field. Angela Heintz chipped in with 20 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in the win.

Bloomsburg will have little time to regroup as it heads to downtown Erie to take on the Gannon Golden Knights on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from the Hammermill Center.