ERIE, Pa. – The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team held on for a 60-57 victory on the road at Mercyhurst Friday evening.

Laycee Drake paced the Bonnies with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Aaliyah Parker finished with 10 points and seven rebounds while Elyse MacDonough and Brillana Boyd chipped in nine points each.

Drake controlled the first quarter for the Bonnies (9-3) scoring all 12 of the team's points as the Brown and White built a four-point, 12-8, lead after one.

The Lakers (0-9), however, battled to keep it close before using a 9-0 run to take a 25-20 lead with 4:43 remaining in the first half.

Baskets from Mackenzie Pettinelli, Aaliyah Parker and MacDonough pulled the Bonnies back within four at the break, 31-27.

Bona's defense came to play in the third, holding the Lakers without a point in the period until the 1:27 mark in the period, building a 41-31 advantage.

The two teams traded scores to begin the final frame with the Bonnies holding onto a seven-point, 50-43, lead over the Lakers.

Mercyhurst was able to cut its deficit down to four, 56-52, following a pair of free throws with 2:29 remaining in the game.

Parker was fouled on the next possession, making 1-of-2 at the line to push the Bonnies lead back to a two-possession game.

The Bonnies led the Lakers, 59-54, with 26.4 seconds remaining with the hosts with the ball.

Coming out of the timeout, Shannon Heine made a 3-pointer from the corner to pull the hosts within two with under 10 seconds to play.

Mercyhurst looked to tie the game as time expired, but the shot went off the side of the rim as the Bonnies held on for the road victory.

GAME NOTES

• The Bonnies finished the game shooting 25-for-52 (48.1 percent) from the field and held Mercyhurst to 17-for-61 (27.9 percent) from the floor.
• Bona's won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Lakers, 42-35.
• The Brown and White dominated the painted area, scoring 34 points and finishing +26.
• Mackenzie Pettinelli grabbed seven rebounds for the Bonnies while Olivia DiFranco pulled down six boards.
• The Bonnies 9-3 start is the best start since 2015.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JIM CROWLEY
"Credit to Mercyhurst. They made some big shots and we couldn't separate. They had a great second quarter and then late in the third, they made some good plays. We ended up making some mistakes at crucial moments that we have to learn from."

UP NEXT
The Bonnies wrap up non-conference play Saturday, Dec. 20 when they travel to take on Howard. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. in the nation's capital.

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