ERIE, Pa. – Natalie Piaggesi's double-double performance Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center propelled the Lakers to a 20-point victory over the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division leading Indiana (Pa.) Crimson Hawks, 75-55. The win moves Mercyhurst's record to 11-12 overall and 9-8 in league play, while IUP falls to 15-6, 12-5 PSAC.

Mercyhurst shot a season-high 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the floor and outrebounded IUP by 13, 36-23, helping them defeat the Crimson Hawks for the first time since 2014.
The Lakers were led by Piaggesi, who finished with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor. She also pulled in a game-high 10 rebounds, leading her to her second double-double of the year – 11th of her career.

With Mercyhurst holding a four point lead late in the second quarter, 31-27, Angela Heintz and Piaggesi closed the half scoring the final seven points, giving the Lakers an 11-point lead heading into the break.

The wheels came off in the second half, as Mercyhurst led by as many as 17 in the third, before running away with the game in the fourth.

An Adrienne Kloecker 3-pointer gave the Lakers their largest lead of the game at 28, 75-47, with 1:25 to play. Head Coach Deanna Richard would then get to empty the bench for the final minute and a half of the game, as Mercyhurst went on to pick up their fifth win at home this season.  

Heintz (17) and Kloecker (11) both finished with double figures scoring, while Zhane Brooks led IUP with 15.

The Lakers will travel to Clarion University (7-16, 7-10 PSAC) Saturday, February 6, for a 5:30 p.m. tip from Tippin Gymnasium.