ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst women's basketball teams faces 20^th-ranked Indiana (Pa.) on the road Saturday, February 11, at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
 
Live stats will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/iup/wbball/index.htm. A live audio broadcast will be available at http://redzonemedia.com/viewschedule.asp?sportID=2&SchoolID=79. A live video broadcast will be available at http://www.nmtvsports.com/main.php?module=event-detail&eventId=23391.
 
Hurst has won its last three contests, including an 84-56 home win over Clarion on February 8. Dana Banda led the Lakers in scoring for the third straight game, posting 18 points to go along with five assists, four rebounds, and four steals. At 11-10 overall and 9-8 in the PSAC, Mercyhurst is in fifth place in the Western Division-one game behind California (Pa.).
 
Indiana enters Saturday with a 17-4 overall mark and a 13-4 conference record. It fell, 67-63, at Cal on February 8. Freshman Amy Fairman led a second-half rally, finishing with 16 points. It was not enough, however, as IUP dropped its fourth conference game. The Hawks are in third place in the division.
 
In the first matchup of the season, Mercyhurst jumped out to a 16-3 lead in the game's first 10 minutes. IUP crawled back into the contest, eventually taking the lead in the final minute of regulation. Banda drained two free throws to tie the game with one second to play in the second half, sending the action into overtime. The visitors went on to win, 59-55.
 
The teams are 1-2 in rebounding margin in the PSAC, with IUP out-boarding its competition by 5.9 a game and Hurst grabbing 5.7 more rebounds than its opposition. IUP is second in the league in scoring defense, giving up 53.9 points, while the Lakers are fifth at 59.4 per.
 
Nikki Frederickson leads Mercyhurst in scoring at 12.8 points, rebounding at 6.5, and field goal percentage (57.5 percent). Banda ranks seventh in the conference with 4.3 assists per and 13^th in steals with 2.3 a contest. She also plays 34.2 minutes a game, fourth-most in the league. Banda has scored double-digit points in six of her last seven outings, averaging 14.8 points per in the stretch.
 
Sarah Pastorek leads the Hawks with 14.1 points and 7.8 boards a game. She is the only player averaging over nine points per contest.

For game notes, please click here.