Wheeling University Athletics

Early on, the Cardinals and Lakers went back and forth with Mercyhurst holding a 33-27 lead. The Cardinals came out for the second half as they looked to battle back. They would immediately mLe it a one-point affair as Briarley Rogers hit a three and a Kenzie Dalton layup made it 33-32 game. Bryana Henderson would then put the Cardinals up 34-33 and another Dalton layup would put the Cardinals ahead 36-33. Mercyhurst would take that lead back before the media time out as they went ahead 38-36 with just under five minutes in the third quarter.

However, the Cardinals had an answer as a pair of shots by Hinesmon and Henderson made it 40-38 in favor of the Cardinals. Wheeling would continue their run for the rest of the quarter, as they scored the final nine points to go ahead 45-38.

The Lakers responded with a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter, but Wheeling responded right away with a jumper from Hinesmon. Mercyhurst continued to punch throughout the quarter, but Wheeling continued to have an answer as they led 53-49 at the final media time out. Rogers would hit a pair of free throws, but Mercyhurst cut the Cardinal lead to three with a three-pointer from Grace Clary to make it 55-52 with 4:17 to play. That two-point lead stood as the two minute mark ticked away and the Cardinals defense tightened to close out the victory. They allowed just two Laker points over the final two minutes While the offense got it done at the free throw line. Wheeling would go 5-6 on their free throws during that time and clinched the 64-57 victory.
 

The wind marked the second year in a row that the Cardinals will start out 2-0 after they picked up the come from behind effort. The Cardinals picked up the first points of the game with a layup from Hinesmon, but Mercyhurst got going scoring seven of the next nine points to go ahead 7-4. Like the Cardinals did in the second half, Mercyhurst was able to maintain their slim lead through majority of the first two quarters of play. With the 7-4 lead standing after the first media time out, the two teams would go back and forth over the next five minutes. Kadie Colebank let the Cardinals with three points over those five minutes while Graci Fairman added a pair of free throws. Still, The Cardinals found themselves down 13-11 as they entered the second quarter of play.
 

The Cardinals were able to tie things up at the start of the second quarter, as Fairman Hit a layup and Rachel Wilson added another to tie things at 15-15. The Cardinals would take their first lead since the opening minutes On a jumper by Henderson as the two teams sat even for the next minute and a half. However, the Lakers would hit a run right before the media time out and went ahead 22-19 with five minutes before the half. They would extend their lead to 28-21 at the 2:58 Mark before Hinesmon got the Cardinals back on the board with a layup. A three-pointer by Danielle Grimm got Mercy Hurst over the 30 point mark and Henderson added a three of her own to keep the Cardinals right there. However, it would be Mercyhurst that had the advantage heading into halftime leading 33-27. The Cardinals then fought back in the second half to earn their second straight victory.
 

Leading the way for the Cardinals was graduate student Jacqui Hinesmon, for finished with 13 points and eight rebounds on the day. She was efficient from the floor shooting 71.4% (5-7) and added a 3-4 effort from the charity stripe. The other double digit score for the Cardinals was Bryana Henderson, who finished with a season high 12 points, including a 2-4 mark from three-point range. The defensive effort was led by Briarley Rogers, who picked up nine rebounds On the day to go along with nine points as she nearly had a double double. Henderson also led the team with three assists as she rounded out a strong night on the court.
 

The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team Returns to action on Tuesday, November 14th, when they host Thomas Moore with tip off at 5 PM.