ERIE, Pa. – Angela Heintz scored 20 points to lead a trio of Lakers in double-digits as Mercyhurst held on in the final seconds to defeat Kutztown, 59-58.

Natalie Piaggesi contributed 13 points and nine rebounds while Adrienne Kloecker added 11 points and six assists to guide Mercyhurst (2-3, 1-2 PSAC) to its second consecutive victory.  Kutztown (2-1, 2-1 PSAC) was led by Natalya Lee with a game-high 21 points.

Heintz and Kloecker helped fuel a third-quarter comeback for the Lakers.  After trailing 27-23 at halftime, Heintz chipped in nine of her 20 points in the third, including a three-pointer as time expired.  Meanwhile, Kloecker tallied five of her 11 points in the third quarter to swing Mercyhurst ahead, 46-40.

Heintz continued the hot hand to start the fourth, draining her third three-pointer of the game to kick the Lakers out to a 49-40 advantage.  The nine-point lead was the largest by the Lakers since Piaggesi's jumper at 3:20 in the first quarter gave Mercyhurst its biggest margin of the game, 14-4.

Back-to-back layups by Piaggesi and Kloecker stretched Mercyhurst to a 53-43 lead with 5:22 remaining in the game, but Kutztown chipped away and brought the game to within two points, 58-56, on a Cara Funk jumper with 1:54 remaining. 

Mercyhurst's last field goal came at 3:32 left in the game and went 1-for 4 at the charity stripe in the final 10 seconds.  Kutztown cut the lead to one with two seconds remaining after Jessica Bell was whistled for the intentional foul and Kuztown's Kelsey Watson hit both free throws for the final score.  Jenna Altmore's desperation three-pointer missed and the Lakers held on for a victory.

Mercyhurst returns to action in the McDonald's Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27 and 28 where the Lakers will face two non-conference foes, St. Joseph's College (Ind.) and Hillsdale.