Salem University led throughout virtually the entire first half, but a 26-5 scoring run that began in the final minute of the third quarter lifted Mercyhurst University to an 82-61 victory over the Tigers in NCAA Division II women's basketball Tuesday at Erie, Pa. Nerea Arambarri Fernandez and Alicia Smith led the Tigers with 14 points apiece.

The two teams were scheduled to play again Wednesday, but the game has been postponed to allow Salem to return home prior to the snowfall that's forecast for North Central West Virginia. A winter storm warning goes into effect Wednesday morning.
 
Shanysse Alexander's three-pointer four minutes into the contest broke a 7-7 tie and Salem (0-4) kept the lead the remainder of the first quarter. The Tigers took their biggest lead of the game at 21-13 after a jumper by Smith with 2:17 left in the period. Madeline Legget answered a Mercyhurst three-pointer with a basket and Salem went into the second quarter with a 23-16 advantage.
 
Mercyhurst (3-0) pulled within a field goal before Faith Williams connected from beyond the arc to stretch the Tigers' lead to 29-23. Mercyhurst chipped away and the Lakers took their first lead of the contest at 33-32 with exactly two minutes left before halftime.
 
The Lakers held a three-point lead before Smith sparked a rally in the final 38 seconds to put Salem back on top at the break. Smith tied the game with a three-pointer and then made a steal on Mercyhurst's ensuing possession. Smith drew a foul on her jumper and converted the three-point play to give the Tigers a 40-37 halftime advantage.
 
Daniela Quesada answered a Mercyhurst free throw with a jumper, but the Lakers held the Tigers without a field goal over the next four minutes to go back on top and Salem never regained the lead. After Fernandez tied the game 48-48 with 4:20 left in the third quarter on a pair of free throws, Mercyhurst used a Jayde Boyd three-pointer to break the deadlock and the Lakers led the rest of the way.
 
Salem was still down by only three points after Quesada sank a pair of free throws with 1:52 remaining. But Boyd hit a pair of jumpers in the final 61 seconds to give Mercyhurst a 60-53 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Lakers extended their lead to 65-55 with 8:12 left to play and the margin stayed at double figures the remainder of the contest.
 
Quesada finished with 10 points for Salem, while Williams added eight points. Nateria Freeman was the Tigers' top rebounder with nine boards.
 
Boyd, who scored 11 points in the third quarter, led all players with 24 points and 12 rebounds for Mercyhurst. The Lakers placed five players in double figures.
 
Salem returns to action Friday as the Tigers travel to Towson, Md., to take on Division I Towson University. Tip-off is 4 p.m.