ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst women's basketball team will wrap up the home portion of their schedule when the welcome the Vulcans of the California University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday night.
Game Information
Opponent - California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans
Date - Wednesday, February 26
Time - 5:30 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Series History - Cal leads 28-11 (Hurst won last meeting 62-55 on 1/25/20 in California)
Tickets
Lakers Notes
Live Stats
Watch
Last Meeting - LAKERS 62, Vulcans 55 (1/25/20)
The Lakers trailed 31-22, before a 25-9 outburst in the third quarter put Mercyhurst in front for good as they led 47-40 through 30-minutes. The final frame was all Lakers as
Julia Buchman and
Nicolete Newman both hit early three-pointers to lead by a dozen, 54-42. Cal tried to hang tough using an 8-1 charge to close to within in 55-50 with 2:43 left. The Lakers outscored the hosts 7-5 down the stretch to end the game at 62-55. Mercyhurst shot 53.2% from the floor and 50% beyond the arc.
Amber Renz paced the side with 21 points and six boards.
Emily Shopene and Newman added 16 and 12 respectively.
Lauren Lapertosa had a team-high seven rebounds.
Last Time Out - Fighting Scots 75, LAKERS 59 (2/22/20)
The Lakers got off to a fast start as triples by Renz and Lapertosa put them up 8-3 with 4:15 gone.
Kori Sidwell and
Nicolete Newman all hit key shots the remainder of the period to have the visitors ahead 23-15. Edinboro spent the second quarter trying to play catchup, but Mercyhurst did not let them get over the hump as they led 30-25 at the break. The Fighting Scots used a 13-5 charge late in the third to draw even at 47-47 through 30-minutes. Unfortunately, Michela Barnes went on a personal rampage scoring 10 points during a 13-3 run to push the hosts to the front 70-55, which they held onto for the 75-59 win. Renz and Shopene each notched double-figues with 18 and 12. Shopene had a team-high seven boards.
Scouting the Lakers (7-19, 7-13 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst has allowed just over 70 ppg to their opponents (70.7), but only score 63.1 for a -7.6 scoring margin. The Lakers shoot 42.1% from the floor as a team. They are sitting at a 30.5% clip from beyond the arc, but are only 68.5% at the charity line. As a unit they possess -0.1 rebound margin grabbing 34.4 giving up just 34.5.
NCAA Ranks
As a team Mercyhurst ranks inside the Top-100 nationally in field goal percentage (85th), assists (87th), assists per game (90th), blocked shots (60th), and blocked shots per game (61st). Individually, Renz is 45th in the country and fifth in the PSAC shooting 54%. Shopene ranks 11th in minutes per game with 37.65. Shopene is 8th nationally in total minutes played at 978:50. Shopene also ranks 85th in assist-turnover ratio at 1.58.
Protect the Ball
The Lakers continue to get better at holding onto the ball dropping their season average under 17 turnovers per game to 16.5, which is resulting in 17 opposition points. On the other side of the ball, they are forcing 13.7 turnovers and are picking up 12.8 points off their opponents mistakes.
Ball Hogs
Mercyhurst averages 6.7 steals per game and have totaled 175 on the season after having seven on Saturday at Edinboro. Lapertosa has the team lead with 38, while the trio of Shopene (28), Sidwell (28) and Newman (26) are also having good seasons.
Vivian Allison, Renz and Buchman also land in double-figures.
Crash the Boards
Mercyhurst is a -0.1 in rebound margin at 34.4 to 34.5. The duo of Sidwell and Renz are averaging over five rebounds per game. Lapertosa and Shopene each haul in at least four per game, with Newman just behind at 3.6.
Balanced Scoring
Renz heads the attack dropping 16.2 ppg, while Newman joins her in double-figures at 10.0. Shopene puts up 9.5 per game, followed by Lapertosa (6.7) and Sidwell (5.4).
Meghan Komendarek, Buchman, and Allison all average over three apiece.
Block Party
The Lakers added four more blocks to their season total on Saturday which now sits at 96, which has them averaging 3.7 per game. Renz now paces the team with 22, while Lapertosa (19), Komendarek (18) and Sidwell (10) join her in double-figures. Buchman and Shopene have combined for 15.
Stephanie Petery, Newman, and Allison have all recorded at least one.
Congrats Amber!
With her layup at the 7:46 mark of the second quarter against Gannon on February 12th, Renz became the 20th player in Mercyhurst women's basketball history to eclipse 1,000 points for her career.
Postseason Charge
Mercyhurst sits tied for the final playoff spot with Seton Hill at 7-13 in the PSAC West standings. Cal has secured a spot in the PSAC Tournament. The Lakers currently hold the tiebreaker with Seton Hill thanks to their earlier win over the Vulcans.
Scouting the Vulcans (19-7, 13-7 PSAC)
California (Pa.) arrives in Erie having won six of their last seven games, including a 65-45 triumph on the road at Clarion on Saturday. The Vulcans are shooting 36.6% from the floor, 29.5% beyond the arc and 78% at the charity line. They hold a +5.7 scoring margin dropping 68.7 ppg, while allowing 63 to opposition. Cal does not turn the ball over much averaging just 12.3 per game and force 21.2 from their opponents. Three players average double-figures led by Monica Burns with 14.2 ppg, followed by Bianca Jasper (10.7) and Shauna Harrison (10.0). Olivia Hudson, Brionna Allen and Halle Herrington each net over seven points. Harrison and Jasper are the leading rebounders grabbing over five per game. DJ Hahn and Allen join for nine combined.
On Deck - Regular Season Finale
The Lakers travel down the highway to Slippery Rock to take on the Rock at 1pm on Saturday afternoon.
