ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will look to get back on track and earn win number on under new head coach Brooklyn Kohlheim, as they continue their non-conference schedule on Wednesday evening against the Cavaliers of Walsh University.   

GAME INFORMATION
Date - Wednesday, November 20
Time - 5:30 pm
Location - North Canton, Ohio (Cecchini Center) 
Live Video and Stats

Last Time Out
Mercyhurst dropped their home opener to Notre Dame College by a score of 75-66 on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.  The game was tight early with Nicolete Newman drilling a pair of three-pointers to grab a small 10-8 edge four minutes in.  A couple of turnovers and a 6-0 run gave the guests a 16-10 lead which they continued to hold through the remainder of the frame even after Emily Shopene cut it to 18-15 the Falcons would be up 24-17 after one.  In the second, Meghan Komendarek and Vivian Allison kept the hosts within reach, but they were still trailing 39-31 at the break.  An Eliza Oswalt layup and a triple from Shopene made it 39-36, 90-seconds into the third.  However, the Lakers could not get closer as the Falcons continued to lead 57-52 through 30-minutes.  Amber Renz, Jenna Kunst, and Allison closed the gap down to three once again 63-60, but once again Mercyhurst never got over the hump as NDC held on for the 71-66 win.

Scouting the Lakers (0-3, 0-0 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst is averaging 67.3 points per game shooting 42.8% from the field, 28.3% beyond the arc, and 78.8% on the charity stripe which is good for 20th in the nation.  The Lakers are handing out a dozen assists per contest, while ripping down 37.7 rebounds per game.  

Protect the Ball
Turnovers have been costly for Mercyhurst so far this season as they average 19.3 per game, which has resulted in their opposition holding a +11 margin in the points off turnovers category.

Ball Hogs
The Lakers as a team have totaled 21 steals on the season, averaging 7.0 per game.  Lauren Lapertosa and Shopene each have five to put up on average 1.7 each contest.

Crash the Boards
Mercyhurst holds a +2.4 margin on the glass.  Lapertosa is the team leader with 7.7 rpg, followed by 6.0 for Newman and 4.7 by Allison. 

Spread the Wealth
The trio of Renz (14.3), Newman (13.0), and Shopene (10.7) lead the Mercyhurst attack accounting for roughly 38 points per game.

Block Party
Komendarek has five of the Lakers ten blocks on the season averaging 1.7 bpg.  Lapertosa has added two, while Kori Sidwell, Oswalt and Renz each have one.

When Will it Come?
First-year head coach Brooklyn Kohlheim is still looking for win number one as captain of the Lakers ship.  

Scouting the Cavaliers (4-1, 0-0 Great Midwest)
Walsh split their two games last weekend falling to Lindenwood on Saturday, before upending Saginaw Valley a day later.  So far on the season they rank 20th nationally in scoring offense putting up 85.8 ppg.  As a unit the Cavs are shooting 49.5% from the floor, a solid 44.3% from deep and 73% at the line.  To stop Walsh the Lakers will have to focus on two players in Quionche Carter and Mayci Sales.  Carter is racking up 21 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and just under one block.  Her partner in crime Sales averages 18.8 ppg and team-highs in rebounds (6.8) and blocks (1.0).  Tyler Newkirk is also scoring double-figures chipping in 12.8 and handing out four assists, while Kimmie Borck is just off the pace with 9.4 ppg.  Kate Bruce is leading the Cavaliers charge for the fourth season.

Series History
The overall series is knotted at 1-1.  The Lakers took the game last year on November 17th by a score of 78-76 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

Waiting at Port
Mercyhurst returns home this weekend to begin PSAC play with matchups against Millersville and Shepherd on Saturday (1pm) and Sunday (1pm).