ERIE, Pa. – Natalie Piaggesi led Mercyhurst with a double-double to help the Lakers hold off Cheyney University, 57-52.  Piaggesi was a perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line as the Lakers finished 18-of-23 from the charity stripe.  Mercyhurst (3-8, 1-5 PSAC) led by just two with 3:32 to go, but six free-throws by Piaggesi and a lay-up by Alex Artise in a span of 40 seconds helped give the Lakers a nine-point lead that they would not relinquish.
 
Kyra Hines-Allen led Cheyney (1-9, 1-4 PSAC) with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Mercyhurst held a slim 31-28 lead at the half but stretched its lead to 36-28 after an Adrienne Kloecker jumper and Alex Artise 3-pointer to open the second stanza.  However, the Wolves roared back with an 8-0 run to tie the game for the fifth time.  TaKayla Ellis' 3-point shot gave the Wolves a 39-36 advantage, then Arion Jackson's layup pushed the visitor's lead to 42-38 with just under 10 minutes remaining.

The Laker defense answered, holding Cheyney scoreless over the next four minutes while another Kloecker layup and Piaggesi jumper coupled with baskets by Angela Heintz and Hayley Andres regained the lead for Mercyhurst.  Cheyney would get only as close as two points, 47-45, before the Lakers used free throws to put the game out of reach.

Artise finished as the Lakers second-leading scorer with 11 points while Kloecker finished with seven points and Jessica Bell added another six.  Katie Heckman saw her first collegiate action, scoring two points and a rebound.

Mercyhurst is next in action on Dec. 20 at Millersville University.  The Lakers return home on Jan. 7 to face Mansfield following another road trip against PSAC Eastern Division foes Shippensburg and Kutztown on Jan. 3 and 4.