ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will look to stop a two-game skid when they welcome crosstown rival Gannon University to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Saturday night for the first Porreco Pride of Erie Cup game of the season with the other one taking place on Wednesday, February 12 at the Hammermill Center.

Game Information 
Opponent - Gannon University Lady Knights
Date - Saturday, January 18
Time - 5:30 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Series History - Gannon leads 60-31, (Gannon won last meeting 62-60 at the Hammermill Center on 2/23/19)
Lakers Game Notes
Live Stats
Live Video
Tickets

Get Your Beer Here
Beer sales will be available to all patrons 21 years of age or older and will be sold at the stand located next to the concession stand in the Mercyhurst Hall of Fame area.  Sales will begin 60-minutes prior to tipoff of the women's game and will stop midway through the second half of the men's contest. 

Early Ticket Sales
Due to the large crowds that are expected fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets online by clicking here, but be advised there are additional fees.  If you do purchase online you have the option to either print off your tickets or show the mobile option at the entrance gate.  Tickets can also be bought at the Mercyhurst Athletic Complex Monday through Thursday, from 10am to 4pm and Friday from 10am to 2pm.  They will also be sold at the door on gameday beginning three hours before the women's contest at 5:30pm.  Cash or credit card will be accepted.      

Last Time Out
Mercyhurst trailed 38-29 at halftime, and cut the deficit down to 54-52 after three quarters.  However, they were outscored 22-17 in the final ten minutes to suffer a hard-fought 76-69 loss on the road to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Wednesday night.  The game was won on the foul line as the Mountain Cats went 31 times converting 26 chances, while the Lakers earned 13 trips and made 12 shots.  Amber Renz paced Mercyhurst with a double-double netting 18 points and grabbing 12 boards.  Nicolete Newman and Emily Shopene added double-figures with 13 and 10 respectively.  Outside of Renz, Lauren Lapertosa was the leading rebounder with six.    

Scouting the Lakers (4-12, 4-6 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst continues to hold a -7.7 scoring margin putting up 63.9 ppg, but allowing 72.6 to the opposition.  The Lakers as a team are shooting 42.5% from the floor, while hitting at a  28.9% clip outside the arc, but only 67% on the line.  As a unit they are averaging 13.9 assists per game, while on the glass they pull in an even 36 rebounds per contest and allow only 33.3 to the opposition.  

NCAA Ranks
As a team Mercyhurst ranks inside the Top-100 nationally in field-goal percentage (82nd), assists (72nd), blocked shots (41st), and blocked shots per game (61st).  Individually, Renz is 59th in the country and fifth in the PSAC shooting 53.7%.  Shopene and Lapertosa rank 15th and 63rd in minutes per game with 36.81 and 34.35 respectively.  Shopene is sixth nationally in total minutes played at 588.57.   

Protect the Ball
After a season-high 25 turnovers in the loss on Wednesday the Lakers average per game has crept back over 17 at 17.4 per game.  Mercyhurst holds a -3.8 turnover margin and allow 17.9 ppg off of their turnovers, while converting their opponents 13.6 mistakes into 12.8 ppg. 

Ball Hogs
The Lakers had eight steals on Wednesday night to now bring their season total to 106, averaging 6.9 per game.  Lapertosa (25) and Shopene (18) lead the way, followed by Newman with 17.  Sidwell is next with 11, while Renz has nine and Vivian Allison has grabbed seven.  

Crash the Boards
Mercyhurst is a +2.7 in rebound margin at 36.0 to 33.3.  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 paces a duo of double-digit scorers for the Lakers with 14.8 ppg, followed by 10.4 for Newman.  Shopene lands just off the mark at 9.9, while Eliza Oswalt and Lapertosa chip in 8.3 and 7.3 respectively.  

Block Party
Komendarek continues to lead the Lakers by posting 12 of the team's 60 blocks which has them averaging 3.8 per game for the season.  Renz and Lapertosa each have 11.  Sidwell and Shopene have each posted six, followed by Julia Buchman with her five.  Four other players have at least one.

Scouting the Lady Knights (12-4, 8-2 PSAC)
Gannon arrives at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center winners of seven of their previous eight, which includes a convincing 75-55 win over Clarion on the road Wednesday night in PSAC West action.  The Lady Knigths are shooting 45.8% from the floor, 33.8% outside the arc, and 75.2% on the charity line.  As a team they post a +6.5 rebound margin bringing in 35.2, while only allowing the opposition 28.7 per game.  They are also a positive in the scoring margin netting 70.1 per contest and hold opponents to just 65.2.  Gannon relies on two players to act as a catalyst to the offense led by Tori Obenrader who paces the side in both points (18.0) and rebounds (7.8).  Chelsea Rourke finishes off the tandem with 11.8 ppg, while Haley Tewes chips in 8.5 ppg and grabs 5.5 boards.

On Deck - Staying at Home
Mercyhurst will return to action on Wednesday, January 22 when they welcome PSAC West foe Slippery Rock University to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center for a 5:30 pm tipoff.