ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will look for their first win of the new decade when they make a pair of road trips this week first to nationally-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Monday, followed by a visit to Clarion University just two days later.
Game Information
Opponent - IUP Crimson Hawks
Date - Monday, January 6
Time - 5:30 pm
Location - Indiana, Pa. (Kovalchick Athletic Complex)
Series History - IUP leads 27-6, (Crimson Hawks won the last meeting 81-56 on 2/2/19 in Indiana, Pa.)
Lakers Game Notes
Live Video
Live Stats
Tickets
Opponent - Clarion Golden Eagles
Date - Wednesday, January 8
Time - 5:30 pm
Location - Clarion, Pa. (Tippin Gymnasium)
Series History - Mercyhurst leads 25-23, (Golden Eagles won last meeting 73-65 on 2/6/19 in Erie)
Live Video
Live Stats
Ticket Info
Last Time Out
Mercyhurst had Seton Hill knotted at 21-21 after one. The Lakers would use an 8-2 run midway through the second to lead by one 36-35, but the visitors got six of the last nine to lead 41-39 at the break. Unfortunately for the home side they were outscored by the Griffins 44-23 over the final 20-minutes to fall short 85-62 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
Lauren Lapertosa and
Amber Renz scored 14 and 12 respectively to lead Mercyhurst.
Kori Sidwell added eight with
Nicolete Newman dropping seven in her first game back from injury.
Scouting the Lakers (3-9, 3-3 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst are putting up 65.5 points per game, but allow 73.7 to the opposition. The Lakers knock down 43.2% of their attempts from the field, 27.2% outside the arc, and 68.6% on the charity stripe. They grab 34.9 rebounds per contest and dish out 13.4 assists. On the defensive end the Lakers record 6.9 steals and 3.4 blocks.
NCAA Ranks
As a team Mercyhurst ranks inside the Top-100 nationally in field-goal percentage (63rd), blocked shots (100th), and blocked shots per game (99th). Individually, Renz is 29th in the country and second in the PSAC shooting 58.0%. Shopene and Lapertosa rank 17th and 81st in minutes per game with 36.32 and 34.02 respectively. Shopene and her 399.32 minutes played on the season puts her 85th nationally.
Protect the Ball
Turnovers were a problem for the Lakers earlier this season, but they have worked hard and have brought their average down from 19 to 16.7 per contest. However, while the average has dropped they have still committed more turnovers than their opponents in nine of their 12 games so far. Mercyhurst holds a -3.1 turnover margin and allow 16.9 ppg off of their turnovers, while converting their opponents 13.6 mistakes into 13.8 ppg.
Ball Hogs
The Lakers added another ten steals on Friday and now as a team have totaled 83 steals on the season, averaging 6.9 per game. Lapertosa (17) and Shopene (16) lead the way, followed by Sidwell with ten. Newman is next with nine, while Renz has eight and
Vivian Allison has chipped in seven.
Crash the Boards
Mercyhurst now holds a very slim +0.6 in rebound margin at 34.9 to 34.3. Lapertosa is the team leader with 5.5 rpg, followed by 4.9 for Sidwell. Newman and Renz also average over four per game at 4.5 and 4.0.
Balanced Scoring
Renz leads the Lakers in scoring with 14.9, with Shopene also putting up double-digits at 10.1. Newman sits at 9.5, while Oswalt and Lapertosa each average over eight per game.
Block Party
Komendarek has recorded a dozen of the Lakers 41 blocks who average 3.4 bpg as a team. Renz has eight and Lapertosa has seven. Sidwell has posted five, followed by Shopene who is right behind her with four. Four other players have at least one.
Scouting the Crimson Hawks (11-1, 6-0 PSAC)
Indiana comes into Monday ranked 11th in the national poll. They are currently riding a nine-game winning streak after knocking off Lock Haven from the Eastern Division in crossover play. As a team the Crimson Hawks are shooting 46.5% from the field to go along with 40% outside the arc and a respectable 74.7% at the charity line. All this amounts to 72.8 ppg, while holding their opponents to a mere 52.5 resulting in a +20.3 scoing margin. Their offense possesses a three-headed monster as three players average double-digits. Justina Mascaro leads the way with 15.4 ppg. Lexi Griggs (13.0) and Natalie Myers (12.9) complete the trio. Two players bring down over seven rebounds per game each paced by Myers and her 7.3. Maura D'Anna is right behind her and just off the pace at 7.2 on average per contest. Tom McConnell is in his seventh season as the leader of the Crimson Hawks nest.
Scouting the Golden Eagles (3-9, 1-5 PSAC)
Clarion defeated Slippery Rock their last time out by a score of 63-60 at home. Prior to taking on the Lakers they will travel to Seton Hill on Monday night. As a unit they shoot 36.6% from the floor coupled with 27.6% from distance and below 50% on the foul line sitting at 48.9%. The Golden Eagles hold a -5.4 rebound margin pulling down 36.3 rebounds to their competition 41.7 per game. Defensively, Clarion are ball hogs snagging 8.3 steals per game as well as 1.7 blocks. Two players average just under ten points per game as Emily Hegedus and Celeste Ryman both score 9.3 per game. Jada Smith and Yndiah Bobo each chip in 8.4, while Ke'Airah Massiah adds 8.0. Smith leads the Golden Eagles in rebounds pulling down 8.5 per game, followed by 7.1 for Yasmin Lewis. Jana Ashley leads Clarion for the sixth season.
On Deck
Mercyhurst will play one more game before classes resume when they welcome Kutztown to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Saturday, January 11th for a 1pm tip.
