MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University women's basketball team held on to defeat Mansfield, 61-58, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action Sunday afternoon. The win improves the Lakers record to 6-9 overall and 4-5 in conference play. The Mountaineers fall to 3-9, 1-8 PSAC-E.

Mercyhurst jumped out to an 11 point lead in the first period, 18-7. Six different Lakers scored in the opening frame.

Mansfield would climb back within one with five minutes to play in the half before Mercyhurst rattled off ten straight points to increase their lead back to double figures, 33-22. The Lakers held a nine point advantage heading into the break.

The Mountaineers would again close within one in the third, 37-36, with 6:34 to play, but the Lakers' Jalin Steel answered the Mansfield run with a 7-0 spurt of her own. Steel's seven consecutive points helped the Lakers regain an eight point advantage.

In the fourth, Mansfield finally tied the game at 50 with just under five minutes to play. But, yet again, Mercyhurst would go on a 9-0 run and held a 59-50 lead with 39 seconds remaining. Mansfield's late rally wasn't enough, as the Lakers held on to win their first game in 2016.

Steel led the Lakers in scoring with 21 points and has now scored 20 points in back-to-back games, while Angela Heintz (15) and Natalie Piaggesi (12) also posted double figures scoring.

The Lakers finished 23 of 58 (39.7%) from the floor and assisted on 16 of their 23 field goals. Mansfield held the rebound advantage, 46-34.Mercyhurst will be back at home Wednesday, January 6, for a PSAC matchup against Lock Haven. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the MAC.