CLARION, Pa. – Mercyhurst Prep saw its season end one game short of a berth in the state finals thanks to Westmont Hilltop and Christiana Gordon.
Gordon scored 27 points and the Hilltoppers played suffocating defense in a 46-16 win over the Lakers (24-4) in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals.
The Hilltoppers (23-4) led 16-6 after the first quarter and 30-9 at halftime behind 19 points from Gordon.
Westmont built the lead to 31 points, 42-11 in the fourth quarter with the running clock in effect for the remainder of the game.
Zoey Lynch added nine points in the win for the Hilltoppers.
Olivia Kulyk scored 13 of Mercyhurst Prep’s 16 points.
Westmont Hilltop will meet Lancaster Catholic, a 53-43 winner over Loyalsock Township, on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the GIANT Center in Hershey.
“I just told them how proud I was of them,” said Mercyhurst Prep coach Dan Perfetto. “Tonight didn’t define who we are. I want them to look back on what they accomplished. There’s so much to be proud of. D10 champions and to get to the final four says a lot about who they are.”
