ERIE, Pa.—The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will host California (Pa.) as they look to stay alive as playoffs approach.

Who: California (Pa.) (20-3, 14-3) At Mercyhurst (9-15, 6-11)
Where: Erie, Pa. (MAC)
When: February 20, 2019
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Previous Game Recap

• Nicolete Newman was one of five Mercyhurst scorers in double-figures, finishing with 21 points, as the Mercyhurst women's basketball team defeated Seton Hill, 88-66, in a PSAC contest on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center
• Meghan Komendarek added 16 points and Eliza Oswalt had 14 points for Mercyhurst (9-15, 6-11). Rachel Chessar and Amber Renz chipped in with 11 points apiece. Komendarek also finished with nine rebounds while Lauren Lapertosa, Emily Shopene and Kori Sidwell dished six, five and four assists, respectively. Sidwell made four steals.
• The Lakers held a 41-34 lead at halftime and led by as many as 10 in the third quarter before going on a decisive 11-point run, which began in the third and ended in the fourth. Chessar had five points and Komendarek put in four during that stretch. The Lakers led by as many as 23 in the fourth.
• MU led the battle on the boards with a 43-34 rebound advantage. The Lakers shot 45.2 percent from the field (33 of 73) while SHU went for 37.7 percent (23 of 61).

Playoff Implications

• Mercyhurst now sits 1 1/2 games out of a playoff spot behind fifth-place teams Slippery Rock and Pittsburgh-Johnstown, which are both 8-10 in the PSAC West. Gannon is seventh with a 7-11 conference record -- one-half game ahead of the Lakers. The Top 6 teams in the West Division qualify for the PSAC Tournament.

 
Keys for the Lakers

• With a huge win against Seton Hill, Mercyhurst continues to stay alive and in the hunt for a playoff spot
• In the conference, the Lakers are ninth in scoring averaging 68.2 per game and 15th in the conference in defense allowing 71.7 points per game
• In other categories, MU is 12th in field goal percentage with .405, third in three point field goal percentage (.348), and fourth in three pointers per game (7.0)

Leading the Lakers

• MU has three Lakers averaging nine points or more including Renz who leads the team averaging 11.5 points per game followed by Oswalt with 9.6 and Shopene with 9.0
• Shopene also leads the team in assists per game and is fifth in the conference with 4.1
• On the defensive side, Lapertosa leads the Lakers on the defensive side in blocks with 15 on the season and Sidwell leads in steals with 30 on the season

Keys for the Vulcans

• Cal is ranked 18th in the country
• The Vulcans are coming off a two game winning streak after previously losing to Edinboro (Feb. 9) and SRU (Feb. 2)
• In the conference, Cal is fourth in scoring averaging 72.4 points per game
• On defense, California (Pa.) is second in the PSAC only allowing 58.1 points per game

Leading the Vulcans

• Seairra Barrett is second in the conference averaging 22.7 points per game, first in rebounding (8.6) and sixth in field goals (.506)
• Barrett also leads the team in blocks (15) and steals (72)

During the Game

• The Lakers will celebrate lone senior Emilee Norris for Senior Night
• Mercyhurst will honor Anna from the Make-A-Wish Foundation
• MU will also hold fan appreciation night 

Next Up: The Lakers will travel cross-town to face rival, Gannon.