SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Jalin Steel poured in a career-high of 29 points as the Mercyhurst women's basketball team pushed past Slippery Rock for a 67-48 victory during Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action on Wednesday.

Steel finished 11 of 22 from the field, including a 7-for-12 performance from three-point territory, to lead the Lakers (18-5, 13-4). The victory helped MU clinch a PSAC Tournament berth. Steel also had nine rebounds.

Also for Mercyhurst, Natalie Piaggesi had 14 points and eight rebounds while Angela Heintz totaled 13 points and nine assists.

C.C. Dixon was SRU's leading scorer with 15 points. Cassidy Wright contributed 11.

The Lakers took a 13-6 lead through one quarter before Slippery Rock went on a 16-1 half-ending run in the second quarter to take a 28-21 into intermission.

The Rock's lead increased to 10 points in the third quarter before Mercyhurst rattled off 15 straight points, starting with a three-pointer by Heintz. Steel followed with a pair of treys as the Lakers closed the period on an 18-2 run, getting eight points from Steel in the process, to take a 46-40 advantage into the fourth.

The Lakers' momentum carried into the final period. SRU (9-15, 6-12) closed its deficit to four points and, then, Mercyhurst enjoyed a 21-3 stretch. Piaggesi got the Lakers started with six points and the perimeter shooters -- Heintz with two 3s and Steel and Alex Artise with one apiece -- enabled Mercyhurst to pull away.

Mercyhurst finished 24 of 53 from the field (45.3 percent) and 11 of 28 from three-point land (39.3) while Slippery Rock was 17-for-61 (27.9) and 4-for-22 (18.2), respectively.

The Lakers' 2016-17 win total now ranks fourth all-time in single-season school history behind Mercyhurst teams in 1994-95 (24-6), 1988-89 (22-7) and 1993-94 (19-9).

Mercyhurst will return to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. PSAC contest at Pittsburgh-Johnstown.