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Sports
Men’s basketball wins at away game
By Raylynn Chraston
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Staff writer
On Feb. 5, the Mercyhurst Men’s basketball team traveled to Clarion, PA, to face the Golden Eagles after taking the win against Seton Hill on Feb. 2.
The first half of the game was very thrilling for the Lakers. Early on in the first half, threes were made from Steve Cannady, senior #4 from Bowie, Maryland, and MiyKah McIntosh, senior #0 from Pickering, Onterio, to start off with a 9-5 lead.
However, the scoring did not end there. The Lakers were able to use their strong attack on the court to outscore their opponent, the Clarion Golden Eagles.
By the start of half time, the score was 49-26 giving the Lakers a 23-point lead.
Kicking off the start of the second half, however, the Lakers started to suffer from their shooting woes, which in turn gave them the statistic of making just 25 percent of their overall shots in the final 20 minutes of the game.
Although the Golden Eagles were able to score more than the Lakers this half, having a total score of 35-22, Mercyhurst ended on top with the final score of 71-61.
During the second half, the Lakers had to play hard defense in order to come out with the win, and they were able to do just that.
Overall, throughout the game the top scorer among both teams was Clarion’s Gerald Jarmon who led with a total of 17 points. Cannady and McIntosh then followed with placing 15 points each on the scoreboard, and then Jess Planutis, redshirt sophomore #31 from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, scoring a total of 14 points and Aidan Reichert, freshman #32 from Jackson Center, Ohio, with a total of eight points put on the scoreboard for the Lakers.
Additionally, a play on the Lakers that stood out during this game was Pipeloluwa Ajayi, freshman #23 from Calgary, Alberta.
Ajayi took control under the basket as he pulled down 12 rebounds split evenly between offensive and defensive plays.
One of the players that had been mentioned, Planutis, was able to give a quote in regard to the game.
“Overall, the whole team contributed on both sides of the ball, giving a pretty balanced scoring effort and guys stepped up on defense to get stops throughout the whole game,” Planutis said.
In addition to Planutis giving a quote, McIntosh was also able to give one.
“It was a great game all around from the team. It was good to get a win on the road which is never easy, and we are feeling good right now as a whole. Jeff and Steve gave us a great push and that shows how deep our team is and anyone can have a great game anytime,” McIntosh said.
The Mercyhurst Men’s basketball team now has an overall 19-4 record for their season thus far; 13-4 of which were conference scheduled games.
The Lakers also have five remaining games of the regular season, before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.
Coming up on Wednesday, Feb. 9, the Lakers will host their rivals the Gannon Golden Knights in the newly remodeled MAC.
This game will be featured locally on the CW Network, so make sure to tune in for that if you are unable to intend in person.
Tip-off for this game is slated for 7:38 p.m., subject to the end of the Mercyhurst Women’s Basketball game beforehand.
Hurst Athletics photo
Senior Steve Cannady goes to make a shot against Clarion Golden Eagles.
Women’s basketball faces tough losses
By Christina Judy and Staff
Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst Women’s basketball team took on the Vulcans of California University of Pennsylvania in their game on Saturday, Feb. 5.
After the Lakers took the early lead and protected it throughout the first half, the Vulcans came back to win 68-60 at the end of the day, which left the Lakers overall record at 7-13.
Most of the first quarter was filled with lead changes until junior Jayde Boyd buried a three-pointer to put the Lakers ahead 11-9. This lead was kept alive by redshirt freshman, Grace Centrulla, due to her couple of layups, and redshirt junior Julia Buchman’s three pointer.
Centrulla finished the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds to account for a double. Other leading scores in the game include redshirt senior, Emily Shopene with seven points and redshirt freshman Grace Clary with six points.
Mercyhurst kept their lead of five points at the end of the first quarter and ended up outscoring the Vulcans in the first. The second quarter brought about some challenges as the Lakers only made two shots from the floor.
However, they were able to hold onto their lead against the Vulcans going into halftime as they went 8-10 from the freethrow line.
California University of Pennsylvania came back in the second quarter to notch a win over the Lakers ending with a final score of 68-60. With motivation drawn from this game, the Lakers look ahead to next week as they have another opportunity to compete on their home court.
The Lakers played hard against Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks on Mon. Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center in a key game for the PSAC standings.
Despite a well-fought battle against the Crimson Hawks, the Lakers fell behind in the second half, losing the game 68-51.
The Lakers started the game strong with the first score from Shopene. This would be the first two points for Shopene who ended the game as a top scorer with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Over the next two quarters, the Lakers and the Hawks kept the game close. IUP was up 27-25 to close the half.
The Crimson Hawks did not let up on the Lakers as they exploded with seven straight points to open the half. Mercyhurst was able to close the gap to only 4942 going into the fourth quarter.
IUP solidified their lead in the last quarter to 12 points and winning the game with a 68-51.
Jayde Boyd was the second highest scorer for the Lakers with 14 points.
The Women’s basketball team will take on Erie rival Gannon University tonight in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:38 p.m. and will be featured on the CW network.
Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of tonight’s game as it is a double header with the Men’s game against Gannon as well.
Renovations to the Owen McCormick Court at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center created an environment for the Lakers that is truly unique to them and their way of play. As sports have always been a way to bring peoples’ spirits together, there is no better place and time to feel more at home than with some friendly competition.
Watching the Lakers compete with their fiery spirits against Gannon will surely be a great way to engage with your community and celebrate the hard work that these young athletes and their coaches put into every day.
Hurst Athletics photo
The Mercyhurst Women’s basketball team lost to California University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania this past week despite hard-fought battles.
The Rams and Bengals seize the day
By Bella Lee Staff writer
It’s February, which means the Super Bowl is coming fast. This year’s Super Bowl LVI will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA on Feb. 13.
The AFC Champs are the Cincinnati Bengals and they will be facing the NFC Champs the Los Angeles Rams in what’s easily the most exciting Super Bowl fans have seen in a long time.
If you would have told Bengals fans at this time last year that they would be in the Super Bowl in 2022, they would have laughed in your face.
The Bengals ended last season with a disappointing 4-11-1 record, no thanks to rookie quarterback Joe Burrow suffering a brutal knee injury against the then-Washington Football Team (newly named the Commanders).
However, the Bengals shockingly turned things around, managing a 10-7 record and winning the AFC North for the first time since 2009.
Before their important Conference Championship, the Bengals defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19 in the Wild Card Game and narrowly beat the Tennessee Titans 19-16 in the Divisional
Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals celebrate the NFL Conference Championships.
CNN Photo
Playoffs.
In the AFC Conference Championship, the Bengals were facing a formidable foe in the Kansas City Chiefs, the defending AFC Champs. This was the fourth straight year that the Chiefs were in this championship, so they were certainly a force to be reckoned with.
However, the Bengals shocked the football world by overcoming a 18-point deficit to defeat Patrick Mahomes and his squad 27-24 in overtime, sending the Bengals to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.
Although upset at their loss, Mahomes still met Burrow to congratulate him and give his blessing to win the Lombardi trophy, telling him to “go win it all.” Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire comforted an overwhelmed Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, his teammate when the two were at LSU, by telling him, “you’re gonna be the greatest receiver to ever do this... Go get you a ring.”
The Rams had an equally difficult road to the Super Bowl, although they have seen more recent success.
Unlike the Bengals, the Rams have seen Super Bowl glory, last hoisting the Lombardi in 2000, while their last appearance was in 2019, losing 13-3 to the New England Patriots. They had a chance last year but fell 32-18 to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Playoffs.
This year, luck was on the Rams’ side, as they upset the Arizona Cardinals 34-11 in the Wild Card Game and shocked the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 30-27 in the Divisional Playoffs.
In the NFC Conference Championship, the Rams faced the San Francisco 49ers last in a Super Bowl in 2020. This game was a nail biter, for if the 49ers had won, the Bengals would have been running for the hills, as their two previous Super Bowl defeats were against them. However, the Rams prevented that from happening, defeating them 20-17. Matthew Stafford threw for two touchdowns, assisted by impenetrable forces in Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr.
This year’s Super Bowl is sure to be an interesting one. The halftime show has a legendary lineup in Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Snoop Dogg.
This game will also include the youngest head coach lineup ever, with a 36-year-old Rams HC Sean McVay and a 38-year-old Bengals HC Zac Taylor.
With recent NFL news such as the retirement of Tom Brady and the rebranding of the former Redskins and Football Team as the Commanders, the Super Bowl is sure to have everyone talking, no matter the winner.
Tune in on Feb. 13 at 6:30 pm on NBC for the game of a lifetime!
Men’s hockey team spilts weekend road games
By Samantha Weber Editor-in-chief
This past weekend, the Mercyhurst Men’s Ice Hockey team competed against the Army West Point Black Knights. These two teams have been playing each other since 2006 and Mercyhurst’s record since then against the Army has been 29-18-7. The past five times these teams have met, Army has won all five.
The weekend consisted of two games between the teams up in West Point, New York. In the first game, the Lakers swept the Black Knights 4-0. Unfortunately, the second game had quite the opposite outcome as the Lakers lost 5-1.
In the first game, junior Jonathan Bendorf scored the first goal of the game at minute 11:23 of the first period. Devon Daniels, senior, and Gueorgui Feduolov, junior, assisted the first goal of the game.
This is the second time the Lakers have scored the first goal in their past three games. Just two minutes later, Feduolov scored the second goal of the game while on a power-play. Carson Briere, sophomore, and Josh McDougall, senior, have the assists.
With six minutes left in the first period, Briere scored the third goal of the game and his tenth goal of the season. Philip Waugh, sophomore, and Austin Hiede-
Hurst Athletics photo
Goalie Kyle McClellan stops the puck in a game against the Army West Point Black Knights.
mann, sophomore, were credited with the assists. During the first intermission, Lakers sophomore goaltender, Kyle McClellan, already had 20 saves.
After dominating the first period, the Lakers also dominated in the second period as the lone goal was scored at the 7:26 minute mark by graduate student Pierce Crawford. Jake Beaune, freshman, and Noah Kane, sophomore, picked up the assists. Neither team was able to score during the third period.
In this game, Mercyhurst was able to show how talented their whole team is including McClellan who had a total of 47 saves. This is McClellan’s career-high for saves and also happens to be the most in Atlantic Hockey this season.
In the second game of the weekend, the Lakers fell behind quickly as the Black Knights scored just 34 seconds into the game and then again three minutes later. The Lakers were unable to score in the first period and they were outshot 20-12.
In the second period, both teams were able to score. Army scored at 5:50 into the period and the Lakers were able to retaliate later in the period. Marko Reifenberger, sophomore, scored at 13:38 to get the Lakers on the board and his third goal of the season. The goal was assisted by Feduolov.
In the third period, Army scored right in the middle of the period, and then again with just 2:30 left in the game. While the Lakers were unable to score again, they were able to take 40 shots on goal for the third time this season. McClellan’s save percentage is .918.
The Lakers only have six games left in their season and the next game is home against RIT on Feb. 11.
