BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Mercyhurst women's basketball senior guard Jenna Van Schaik has been named to the Preseason All-NEC squad. Mercyhurst was picked to finish sixth out of the 10 teams by the league's coaches, the NEC office announced Monday.
 
Van Schaik has played in 73 games for the Lakers from her freshman season in 2022-23, averaging 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20.8 minutes per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native had a standout junior year in the Lakers first Division I year last season, putting up career highs in minutes (34.3), points (13.6), assists (3.0), and rebounds (3.7). The guard shot the ball at a career-high 43.2 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from behind the arc as well.
 
The Lakers finished last season with a 6-10 record in NEC play but come into the 2025 season with a new look. Erin Mills-Reid takes over at the helm of the program, coming back to Mercyhurst after making her coaching debut with the Lakers in the 2006-07 season.
 
Mills most recently spent time at Akron as an assistant coach during the last two season and prior to that was at Stephen F. Austin as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
 
The Lakers will also have a new look on the court, bringing in five freshmen and two transfers. The young squad boasts 12 underclassmen along with two seniors and one junior.
 
The Lakers open the 2025-26 season Nov. 4 at Michigan State. Mercyhurst will make its debut at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Nov. 14 as they host Cornell.