MERCYHURST (4-13, 4-2 NEC) vs NEW HAVEN (5-12, 3-3 NEC)
Thursday, Jan. 22 – 6:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletics Center – Erie, Pa.
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team looks to extend its win streak Thursday as New Haven visits Erie. The Lakers are winners of three in a row, collecting wins over Wagner, Central Connecticut State, and Stonehill.
 
The meeting is the first since New Haven joined the NEC and just the second all-time. The Lakers and the Chargers met in December of 2001 in the first and only meeting when both teams were still Division II. Mercyhurst won 80-64.

Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. with the game streaming on NEC Front Row. Concessions will be offering $2 beer at the game as well. 
 
The Opponent
New to the NEC, New Haven is out to 3-3 start in league play with a 5-12 mark overall. The Chargers are 0-6 on the road.
 
New Haven is one of the best rebounding teams in the league, averaging 38.2 per game with a league best margin of +7.3.
 
Senior Aniya McDonald-Perry was named the NEC Player of the Week Jan. 6 following the Charger 2-0 start to NEC play. The forward is averaging 11.2 points while shooting 48 percent from the field. McDonald-Perry is also topping the league in rebounds per game (9.3) in NEC play.
 
The Chargers have dropped three out of their last four contest, picking up at win against Chicago State Jan. 15 and falling to Wagner last Saturday.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers earned their third consecutive victory at Stonehill Saturday. After a back-and-forth first three quarters, the Lakers surged ahead in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Skyhawks 26-17 in the final frame.
Cici Hernandez led the way with 24 points on 10-f-18 shooting from the floor. Erica Hall added 17 points and Jenna Van Schaik chipped in 13.
 
NEC Player of the Week
Cici Hernandez was tabbed the NEC Player of the Week following two outstanding performances. Hernandez had 44 points across the two games, helping the Lakers to a 2-0 week. She tacked on five assists, two rebounds, and a steal while shooting 58 percent from the field.
 
Disruptive
The Lakers are averaging 8.67 steals per contest agaisnt NEC opponents, the second most in the league behind Wagner (9.33).
 
Efficient
Mercyhurst has been one of the most efficient shooting teams in the league since conference play began. The Lakers are scoring the ball at a 44.2 percent clip against NEC foes with Cici Hernandez, shooting 52.1 percent in NEC games.
 
Offensive Power
The Lakers have the second-best scoring offense in the league since conference play began, averaging 71.3 points per game. Cici Hernandez, Sofia Wilson, and Lena Walz are all averaging 10+ points per game against NEC opponents.
 
Finders Keepers
Sofia Wilson is first in the league in steals since NEC play began. She averages 2.7 per game against NEC foe.
 
Protecting the Ball
The Lakers have the best turnover margin since NEC play has begun at 4.67, averaging just 12 turnovers per game. They also have the second-best team assist to turnover ratio in NEC games at 0.97.
 
NEC Standings
The Lakers come into the week third in the NEC standings with a 4-2 mark in conference play. FDU tops the league at 6-0 followed by LIU (5-1).
 
Wagner, New Haven, and Le Moyne all own 3-3 records followed by 2-4 Chicago State, Saint Francis, and Stonehill. CCSU is 0-6.
 
Eight of 10 teams make the NEC Tournament.