ERIE, Pa. (Dec. 15) - The Wheeling Jesuit University women's basketball team was defeated 89-64 by Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game.

The Cardinals fall to 3-8 overall, while the Lakers improve to 2-7 this season.

Junior guard Khira Burton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) led the team with 16 points, while freshman guard Allie Taylor (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) and senior forward Chenelle Moore (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) each added 10 points in the loss.

Mercyhurst took command of the contest in the first quarter and never looked back. The Lakers out-scored Wheeling Jesuit 31-10 in the first 10 minutes and headed into halftime with a 47-24 lead. Mercyhurst forced 13 Cardinal turnovers and shot 18 of 39 (46 percent) from the field in the first quarter to leap out to the big advantage.

The Lakers continued to add to its lead in the second half and enjoyed a size able advantage throughout the remainder of the game.

Five players scored in double-figures for Mercyhurst, led by a game-high 20 from Nicolete Newman.

The Cardinals will have some time off for the Christmas holiday and return to the court on Sunday, December 30 when they travel to Ohio to take on Findlay in a non-conference game at 1 p.m.