SLIPPERY ROCK — This is the blueprint for Slippery Rock University women's basketball success: frenetic defense, balanced scoring — and a little bit of handwringing at the end.

The Rock got all of that Tuesday night againstMercyhurst College at Morrow Field House, building a 20-point lead late in the second half and then holding on for dear life in a 71-61 win.

"This was huge for us. Huge," said SRU coach Laurel Heilman. "This was a huge corner for us to turn. To win it somehow, win ugly."

Things looked supermodelesque early for Slippery Rock.

SRU, which never trailed in the game, built a 10-point lead eight minutes into the game and led by as many as 20 twice in the second half before the Lakers made a frantic late push.

Mercyhurst (1-3) cut the lead to 65-60 following a 19-4 run, but The Rock (3-1) was able to stave off the rally with two key defensive stops and some clutch foul shooting.

The key to the fast start was SRU's balanced play from its plethora of guards.

By halftime, nine Slippery Rock players had scored.

Grove City High graduate Julie Molloy, who transferred to SRU fromDivision ISt. Bonaventure in the offseason, enjoyed her best game of the season with 16 points, four assists and two steals.

During a one-minute stretch in the second half, she scored five points, had two assists and a steal.

Molloy was in the starting lineup in the place of Chere' Marshall, who broke her thumb during practice Friday.

Marshall is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The junior, who transferred to The Rock from St. Bonaventure before last season, was averaging 10 points per game and hit the game-winning 3-pointer against Fairmont State last Tuesday.

"That's a big loss for us," Heilman said. "How tough is it to hit a game-winning buzzer shot, then three days later break your thumb? She did it during the second drill of the day, and she practiced two more hours with it without saying anything. That shows you what kind of character she has."

Without Marshall, SRU still had an effective guard rotation.

Amanda Nero added 10 points, Nikki Presto nine and Sandra Busser eight for The Rock.

Post player KellyAnn Staudinger also scored 16 points.

At this point in the season, Heilman is pleased with a 3-1 record.

"It sure beats 1-3," she said. "The loss was to four. Every single game is tough.For good or bad, I've never had an easy schedule because I know what PSAC play is like. This is what I truly believe will get us ready for that."

MERCYHURST COLLEGE 61Samantha Loadman 1-2 0-0 2, Kelsey Gordon 2-4 1-2 6, Stephanie Prischak 3-8 0-0 8, Paris Pugliese 5-8 1-1 11, Amy Achesinski 9-15 4-6 22, Janeale Ronai 1-2 0-0 3, Mara Dreiser 2-4 1-5 5, Lindsay Whipkey 2-3 0-0 4.

Totals: 25-46 7-14 61

SRU 71Amanda Nero 3-7 2-3 10, Julie Molloy 6-9 2-2 16, Nikki Presto 2-6 4-6 9, Alissa Schake 1-5 0-0 2, KellyAnn Staudinger 8-11 0-0 16, Kara Spagnola 1-2 0-1 2, Haley Gaidosh 1-2 0-0 2, Dana Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Sandra Busser 1-3 5-6 8, Nijha McNeely 3-5 0-0 6.

Totals: 26-50 13-18 71

Haftime score: SRU 38-22.

3-point goals: Mercyhurst 4-11 (Loadman 0-1, Gordon 1-3, Prischak 2-4, Ronai (1-2); SRU 6-11 (Nero 2-5, Molloy 2-2, Presto 1-3, Busser 1-1).

Rebounds: Mercyhurst 21 (Achesinski, Prischak 4); SRU 25 (Presto 6).

Assists: Mercyhurst 16 (Prischak 5); SRU 20 (Nero 5).

Total fouls: Mercyhurst 16, SRU 15. Fouled out: None.