ERIE, Pa. -- Jalin Steel and Angela Heintz scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, but the Mercyhurst women's basketball team dropped a 75-74 decision to Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

Heintz also had 13 rebounds and nine assists, finishing one helper short of a triple-double, while Jessica Bell scored 11 points and Natalie Piaggesi chipped in with 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Lakers (5-9, 3-5).

Clarion's Tania Holmes led all scorers with 30 points. Jordan Bekelja added 17 points, Amesha Harden-Pulliam put in 11 points and Delrika Jones-Carey hauled down 11 rebounds.

The Lakers held four-point leads in both the fourth-quarter and overtime periods; each time, Clarion had a response. Heintz took the last shot in regulation, but failed to break a 64-all tie.

In OT, the visiting Golden Eagles (5-8, 5-3) took the lead for good on a Holmes layup with 38 seconds left. Holmes pushed the Eagle lead to 75-72 with nine seconds left before Steel made a layup with four seconds to go. After fouling -- and a pair of missed Clarion free throws -- the Lakers were unable to get off a final shot.

Mercyhurst went 28 of 53 from the field (52.8 percent), but struggled from the free-throw line, going 12 of 20 (60.0 percent). Clarion was 27 of 65 from the field (41.5 percent), but had a strong day at the charity stripe itself with a 13-for-16 performance (81.3 percent). The Lakers held a 35-33 rebounding advantage.

The Lakers will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 3, with a 1 p.m. PSAC game at Mansfield.