ERIE, Pa. -- Natalie Piaggesi eclipsed the 1,000-career-point mark, totaling 19 pointsin the Mercyhurst women's basketball team's 75-60 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opponent Seton Hill, as the Lakers clinched their first PSAC Tournament berth since 2012-13 on Wednesday.

Piaggesi also had seven rebounds and four blocks in the victory. Angela Heintz added 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists for MU (13-13, 11-9), which jumped to a double-digit lead in the first quarter before surviving a late scare from the visiting Griffins (13-13, 9-11).

The Lakers led 24-10 after the first quarter, enjoying a 12-2 run and then a six-point streak to close the period. They buried five 3-pointers -- two by Heintz, two by Jalin Steel and one by Alex Artise -- as Steel led the effort with eight points in the quarter.

Mercyhurst took a 36-18 lead into halftime and led by as many as 23 in the second half before SHU went on a 14-2 stretch to close its deficit to 43-32. The Griffins eventually pushed further, shrinking the gap to 47-42 to end the third quarter. Jenna Kaufman had 11 points to lead the Griffins' charge back.

Seton Hill twice closed the gap to three points before a Piaggesi jumper with 7:07 left in the fourth. That basketball put Piaggesi over the 1,000-mark and began an 8-1 Mercyhurst run. From there, the Lakers pulled away, enjoying a 16-4 stretch. During the fourth, the Lakers were 20 of 26 from the free-throw line -- this after only taking, and making, one foul shot through the first three periods.

MU went 23-for-47 from the field (48.9 percent), including 8-for-15 from three-point land (53.3 percent) while SHU was 23-for-59 (39.0 percent) and 3-for-17 (17.6 percent), respectively. The Lakers held a 35-31 rebounding advantage.

For MU, it was the third time the women's program has clinched a conference tournament berth since joining the PSAC in 2008-09. The Lakers previously qualified in 2012-13 and 2010-11.

The Lakers will return to action on Saturday when they host California (Pa.) for a PSAC game at 1 p.m. They will also celebrate Senior Day.