ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a star’s dominance and a final-minute flurry, the Mercyhurst Lakers overcame a spirited challenge from the Stonehill Skyhawks to secure a 70-64 victory in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball matchup Monday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

The contest turned decisively in the closing minutes, as Mercyhurst guard Jenna Van Schaik, who finished with a game-high 23 points, spearheaded a critical 9-2 run to break a 61-61 deadlock with under two minutes to play. The surge propelled the Lakers to their third win over Stonehill this season and evened their overall record at 15-15. Stonehill fell to 12-18.

Stonehill, led by Ella Pelletier’s 27 points, controlled the early stages, building a 20-11 lead after the first quarter behind Pelletier’s sharp shooting. The Skyhawks maintained a 31-27 advantage at halftime, but the Lakers began to chip away in the third quarter, outscoring Stonehill 18-13 to narrow the gap to 44-45 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter evolved into a tense back-and-forth affair, featuring five ties and three lead changes. With the score knotted at 61, Van Schaik took over. The junior from Cincinnati drove for a layup to put Mercyhurst ahead for good with 2:11 remaining. After a Stonehill miss, Van Schaik was fouled and sank two free throws. Following another defensive stop, she converted another driving layup, drawing a foul and completing a three-point play to extend the Lakers’ lead to 68-61 with just 34 seconds left.

Stonehill refused to capitulate. Brooke Paquette, who had 11 points, hit a deep three-pointer with nine seconds left to cut the deficit to 68-64. After a Mercyhurst timeout, the Lakers’ inbounds pass was stolen by Stonehill, but a potential game-tying three-point attempt by Paquette missed. Mercyhurst’s Erica Hall sealed the outcome with a layup at the buzzer for the final margin.

Van Schaik’s all-around performance included five assists and two blocks in 40 minutes, continuing her late-season surge. Sofia Wilson provided crucial support for Mercyhurst with 19 points, while Lena Walz added 12, including three three-pointers.

For Stonehill, Pelletier’s offensive output was a bright spot, but the Skyhawks struggled to find consistent scoring beyond her and Julia Webster, who contributed 11 points and eight assists. The Skyhawks were hampered by 18 turnovers, which the Lakers converted into 19 points.

The game’s most pivotal sequence was undoubtedly Van Schaik’s personal 7-0 burst in the final two minutes, which transformed a tie game into a two-possession Mercyhurst lead. Her ability to attack the basket and convert under pressure proved the difference in a contest where neither team led by more than nine points.

Mercyhurst finished the game shooting 44.6 percent from the field and was efficient from the free-throw line, making 15 of 18 attempts. Stonehill shot 41.8 percent from the floor but connected on only 5 of 17 from three-point range. The Lakers also held a slight rebounding edge, 34-30.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Mercyhurst over Stonehill, having previously won 68-55 on Feb. 28 and 63-58 on Jan. 17. An announced crowd of 409 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center watched the Lakers close their home schedule with a win, while Stonehill concluded its road slate.

Both teams now look ahead to the Northeast Conference tournament, where the momentum of a tight, hard-fought victory could prove valuable for the Lakers, while the Skyhawks will aim to channel the competitive spirit they showed for 38 minutes into a postseason run.