CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst women's basketball team stormed past Shippensburg with a dominant third quarter and finished with a 63-51 victory in an NCAA Tournament Atlantic Region First Round matchup at Hamer Hall on Friday. With the victory, the Lakers (24-7) tied the program record for wins in a season.

Natalie Piaggesi finished with 21 points while Angela Heintz contributed 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Mercyhurst. Jalin Steel added 14 points.

Piaggesi and Steel were key performers during the third period when MU outscored Ship, 22-6. Piaggesi (11) and Steel (8) combined for 19 points and an 8-for-12 performance from the field. Heintz hit a three-pointer to account for the only other points in the period.

During the third, Mercyhurst went 9 of 14 from the field while holding Shippensburg to a 3-for-16 showing. The Atlantic fifth-seed Lakers broke a 34-all tie with 14 straight points.

In the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders (24-7), seeded fourth in the Atlantic, went on a nine-point run to close their deficit to 52-45, but Heintz made a key layup and Piaggesi knocked down a pair of free throws to put out the flame. From that point on, Mercyhurst held a comfortable lead.

Colleen Young was the leading scorer for Shippensburg, totaling 15 points. Morgan Griffith hauled down 16 rebounds.

The Lakers tied the program's single-season wins record, which was set by the 1994-95 Mercyhurst team that went 24-6 while advancing to the Elite Eight. Ironically, the '94-95 team was the last Laker women's team to advance to the NCAA Tournament -- and even opened up the tournament exactly 22 years to the day on March 10 with a win over Shippensburg.

The Mercyhurst women's journey continues on Saturday in the NCAA Round of 32 with a matchup against the host of the regional, top-seeded California (Pa.). Cal (29-3) is currently ranked seventh in NCAA Division II.

Mercyhurst and California split their regular-season matchups with the home team winning each time. The Vulcans won in California, 68-66, on Jan. 21 before the Lakers claimed a 78-72 victory in Erie on Feb. 22.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.