ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will look to run their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record back to .500 on Wednesday night when they visit the Mountain Cats of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in PSAC Western Division action. Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm at the Sports Center.
Game Information
Opponent - Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats
Date - Wednesday, January 15
Time - 5:30 pm
Location - Johnstown, Pa. (Sports Center)
Series History - Pitt-Johnstown leads 20-13, (Lakers won last meeting 60-57 at the Sports Center on 2/27/19)
Lakers Game Notes
Live Stats
Live Video
Last Time Out
Mercyhurst led early in the first 7-4, before a 9-2 run by Kutztown gave them a 13-9 edge through one which they would extend to a 25-16 advantage at the break. The Golden Bears pushed the margin to 13, 33-20 in the third, but
Nicolete Newman,
Lauren Lapertosa, and
Kori Sidwell helped the home side close within four at 37-33. The Lakers got no closer unfortunately as KU scored seven points at the foul line down the stretch to see out the 59-45 win. Both teams shot under 35% from the field, but Kutztown went to the charity line 22 times to the hosts five.
Amber Renz led with 16 points and was joined in double-digits by Newman who added 11. Lapertosa chipped in seven. Renz was the leading rebounder pulling down seven.
Scouting the Lakers (4-11, 4-5 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst holds a -7.7 scoring margin putting up 63.6 ppg, but allowing 72.1 to the opposition. The Lakers team shooting percentage has fallen slightly from a flat 43% down to 42.5%, while shooting 28.3% outside the arc and 65.8% on the line. As a unit they are averaging 13.7 assists per game, while on the glass they are bringing down 35.7 rebounds per contest.
NCAA Ranks
As a team Mercyhurst ranks inside the Top-100 nationally in field-goal percentage (82nd), assists (95th), blocked shots (43rd), and blocked shots per game (56th). Individually, Renz is 60th in the country and fifth in the PSAC shooting 53.4%.
Emily Shopene and Lapertosa rank 12th and 61st in minutes per game with 36.93 and 34.38 respectively. Shopene and her 553.57 minutes played on the season puts her 14th nationally.
Protect the Ball
Mercyhurst has dropped their average turnovers per game to just under 17 at 16.9. Mercyhurst holds a -3.2 turnover margin and allow 17.3 ppg off of their turnovers, while converting their opponents 13.7 mistakes into 13.1 ppg.
Ball Hogs
The Lakers only have five steals between their last two games after having two consecutive games of ten-plus and have now totaled 98 steals on the season, averaging 6.9 per game. Lapertosa (21) and Shopene (18) lead the way, followed by Newman with 15. Sidwell is next with 11, while Renz has eight and
Vivian Allison has chipped in seven.
Crash the Boards
Mercyhurst holds a +1.9 in rebound margin at 35.7 to 33.8. Lapertosa continues to lead the side with 5.6 rpg, while Sidwell, Newman, Renz, and Shopene each average over four per game.
Balanced Scoring
Renz leads the Lakers double-digit trio 14.5, with Newman joining her in double-figures with 10.2. Shopene lands just under double-digits at 9.9, followed by 8.3 from
Eliza Oswalt and 7.5 for Lapertosa.
Block Party
Komendarek has recorded a dozen of the Lakers 59 blocks who average 3.9 bpg as a team. Renz and Lapertosa each have 11. Sidwell has posted six, followed by Shopene and
Julia Buchman at five apiece. Four other players have at least one.
Scouting the Mountain Cats (8-7, 3-6 PSAC)
Pitt-Johnstown enters Wednesday after snapping a six-game losing skid by defeating Clarion 75-64 on Saturday at Tippin Gym. The Mountain Cats are a 44% shooting team, knocking down 31.2% from deep and 74.6% on the charity line. As a team they hold a -3.2 rebound margin at 33.7 to 36.9, while posting a +1.7 scoring margin averaging 70.8 ppg to their opponents 69.1. Alli McGrath is their leader with 18.2 ppg and is second in rebounding at 5.5. Gabrielle Smith is her partner in crime scoring 17.2 per contest, while pulling down over five boards per game. Olivia Fasick chips in 9.0 points and Maddie Shanahan is their top rebounder bringing down 6.2.
On Deck - Rivalry Day
Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday, January 18 when they entertain crosstown rival Gannon University in the Porreco Pride of Erie Cup at 5:30 pm at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
