In the first game the Knights gave everything they had, and playing without rebounding machine Tracey Jakubczak, fell to the Lakers 54-48.

Eisenhower used five 3-point baskets — three by Clara Steinberg and two by Lainey Font — to open up a 21-12 first-quarter lead. Steinberg finished with 22 points and Font had 15.

The Lakers’ defense held the Knights to just eight second-quarter points and used a 12-2 run to force a tie at halftime 29-29.

Mercyhurst Prep was able to increase its lead to four points at the end of the third quarter 41-37 despite two 3-point baskets by Font.

Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Gavin Lindemuth blocks a shot during the boys game at Mercyhurst Prep on Friday.

The Knights were held to just one 3-pointer and went 6-of-8 from the free throw in the final period.

Eisenhower head coach D.J. Steinberg on the loss, “They beat us on the boards,” Eisenhower head coach D.J. Steinberg said. “We won’t beat out good teams if we can’t block out. We made that mistake too many times. Offensively, we just weren’t sharp today and made too many mistakes. What hurts the most is that we can play better than we did today. Our mental mistakes took their toll in the game.”

Leading the way for Mercyhurst Prep were Mari Nixon with 22 points and Aubrey Easterling with 12.

The Knights are back in action today when they travel to Northwestern for a 7 p.m. game. Eisenhower is now 14-4 overall and 6-4 in Region 3 play.

EISENHOWER (48)

Childs 1 1 3, Font 5 0 15, Belcher 1 4 6, Alcorn 1 0 2, Steinberg 6 6 22, Totals 14 11 48.

MERCYHURST PREP (54)

Harden 0 0 0, Kaeicher 3 1 8, Notkowicz 2 2 6, Nixon 9 2 22, Savko 1 0 2, Taylor 2 0 4, Easterling 6 0 12, Totals 23 5 56.

3-point goals — Font 5, Steinberg 4, Kaeicher, Nixon 2.

Eisenhower 21 8 8 11 — 48

Mercyhurst Prep 12 17 12 13 — 54

BOYS

LAKERS’ ASHTON

POURS IN 36

ERIE — Tanner Ashton poured in 36 points, including 16 in the decisive fourth quarter, as Mercyhurst Prep rallied to edge Eisenhower 69-64 in a Region 2 game.

The Knights led 55-50 after three quarters, but Ashton, who was 16 of 22 from the foul line for the game, connected on 9 of 14 attempts in the final eight minutes. As a team, Mercyhurst Prep was 21 of 33 from the charity stripe for the game.

The first quarter was fast paced and the scoring back and forth as the Lakers took a 19-15 lead, but the Knights, who began to experience foul trouble, led 35-32 at the break.

Armed with a five-point lead heading into the final period, Eisenhower had no answer for Ashton. The Knights also lost two starters and their sixth man to fouls and had two other starters finish with four fouls. Eisenhower was whistled for 27 fouls while the Lakers were whistled for 17.

Austin Hanson led the Knights with 20 points, Casey Seymour had 16 and Derek Guiher chipped in 11.

Alex Manendo and Aiden Olliger joined Ashton in double figures with 10 points apiece for the Lakers.

The Knights’ region record fell to 3-3 and they are 9-8 overall. They are back in action Tuesday against Erie First Christian Academy at 7 p.m.

EISENHOWER (64)

Hanson 6 6 20, Seymour 4 7 16, Lindemuth 4 1 9, Chase 2 0 4, Guiher 3 3 11, Gigliotti 0 0 0, Mandeville 2 0 4, Totals 21 17 64.

MERCYHURST PREP (69)

Wilbur 2 1 6, Jake 1 0 2, Manendo 4 1 10, Ollinger 4 1 10, Garner 0 0 0, Risto 1 3 5, Ashton 8 16 36, Totals 20 22 69.

3-point goals — Hanson 2, Seymour, Guiher 2, Wilbur, Manendo, Ollinger, Ashton 4.

Eisenhower 15 20 20 9 — 64

Mercyhurst Prep 19 13 18 19 — 69