ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University women's basketball team raced to an eleven point lead at intermission and went on from there to defeat Slippery Rocky 80-68 Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division game. The Lakers improved to 5-11 overall and 3-8 in the conference. Slippery Rock dropped to 6-8 and 2-8 respectively.

The Mercyhurt starting five produced 78 of the team's 80 points. Sophomore forward Natalie Piaggesi followed her historic triple-double performance against Mansfield Wednesday with 22 points and 16 rebounds against The Rock. Piaggesi shot 6 of 11 from the floor and converted all ten of her free throws. Junior guard Adrienne Kloecker and sophomore guard Alex Artise finished with 15 apiece while sophomore guard Mariah Penascino and sophomore forward Jessica Bell contributed 13 each. Penascino also assisted seven times.

Mercyhurst led 34-23 at the break and held its largest advantage, 66-51, with about seven minutes left.

Erica Aiello led Slippery Rock with 17 points while Taylor Siggers had 12 and Shannon Jack contributed 11 off the bench. The Lakers held high-scoring guard D'Asia Chambers, who came in averaging 17.9ppg, to just two field goals and six points.

Mercyhurst owned the glass 40-29, including a 15-6 edge on the offensive boards. Slippery Rock kept the game close with 24 points from its bench.