BUCKHANNON – A slow start cost the West Virginia Wesleyan Lady Bobcats in their non-conference battle with the Mercyhurst Lakers today in Rockefeller Center.

The Lady Bobcats dropped an 88-80 decision.

Wesleyan trailed by a 16-8 margin after one quarter and by a 40-22 score at the break.

The Lady Bobcats turned it around in the second half and outscored Mercyhurst by a 58-48 margin, but it wasn't enough to make up the 18-point halftime deficit.

Mercyhurst built their lead to 60-37 before the Lady Bobcats started on the comeback trail.

Tara Goldman made a lay-up, Adrian Cunningham knocked down two free throws and Goldman turned in a three-point play after being fouled on her lay-up to make it a 60-44 score with 1:39 left in the third quarter.

Mari Stewart drained a jumper to close the third quarter bringing Wesleyan to within 15, at 62-47.

Still down by 15, at 73-58, with 4:39 remaining in the game, Mykenzie Martin fired in a three-pointer and then made one of two at the line to make it a 73-62 game.

Wesleyan closed the gap down to six, at 84-78, after an Allie Browne three-pointer with 35 seconds left in the game.

Wesleyan couldn't get any closer though as Mercyhurst escaped with the eight-point win.

Goldman led the Lady Bobcats with 20 points while Cunningham added 17.

Stewart, in her first game back this year, scored nine points and grabbed two rebounds.

Stacy Remer grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds while adding five points.

Wesleyan, 1-6, is now off over Christmas Break and will return to action at home Monday, Jan. 4 when they entertain Urbana at 5:30 p.m.