MERCYHURST (6-13, 6-2 NEC) at NEW HAVEN (6-13, 4-4 NEC)
Thursday, January 29 – 6:00 p.m.
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team completes the season series with New Haven Thursday night in Connecticut. The Lakers won the first meeting of the year 66-63 in Erie less than a week ago. Thursday's tipoff is set for 6 p.m. with the game streaming on NEC Front Row.
 
The Opponent
New Haven comes into Thursday's game with a 4-4 NEC record. The Chargers' NEC wins have all come over teams below .500 in league play.

The Chargers have one of the best scoring defenses in the NEC since league play has begun. They are allowing just 57.1 points against NEC foes.

New Haven's Addisen Sulikowski is the reigning NEC Co-Player of the Week, averaging 22 ppg, 6 rpg, and 1 spg last week. She posted 27 points in a win over Saint Francis and shot 62.5 percent from the floor.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers extended their win streak to five last week with wins over New Haven and Chicago State.

Mercyhurst used a second-half surge to defeat Chicago State Saturday, 77-76. Freshman Sofia Wilson went off for 22 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in the victory, helping the Lakers overcome a 15 point first half deficit.

Cici Hernandez added 14 points in the win while dishing out three assists. She netted the go-ahead bucket with 40 seconds left in Saturday's contest.
 
NEC Weekly Awards
Sofia Wilson was named the NEC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season. Cici Hernandez earned Prime Performer honors as well.

Wilson averaged 17 ppg, 6 apg, 1.5 spg while shooting 47 percent from the floor over the 2-0 week. Hernandez posted averages of 16 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg, shooting 47 percent from beyond the arc.
 
WWWWWin Streak
The Lakers have their first ever five game win streak since making the jump to Division I. The Lakers won three in a row last season, besting LIU twice and downing Wagner in between. Mercyhurst's last five game win streak came in 2020, winning six in a row from Feb. 29 of the 2019-2020 season to Jan. 9 of the 2020-2021 season.
 
Leveling Up
The Lakers have tied their NEC win total from last season at 6. Mercyhurst, with a 6-2 record, currently sits tied for second in the NEC standings with LIU.
 
60's the Magic Number
Since the 2023-24 season, the Lakers are 33-13 when scoring 60 points are more. Nine of the Lakers' 13 losses this season have come when held to below 60 points.
 
NEC Series Sweep
With a Lakers win Thursday, it would be Mercyhurst's second ever NEC season series sweep. LIU was the only team the Lakers won both games against last season.
 
Offensive Onslaught
The Lakers have the best scoring offense in the league since conference play has begun. Scoring 71.4 points per contest, the Lakers are riding a five-game winning streak into week five of NEC play.
 
Top 25
Mercyhurst has four players in the top 25 in the NEC in scoring since league play began. Cici Hernandez is second in the NEC, averaging 17.3 points per game. Sofia Wilson is fifth at 15.5 points, followed by Jenna Van Schaik at 11.3 ppg, and Lena Walz at 9.5 ppg.
 
Protecting the Ball
The Lakers have the best turnover margin since NEC play has begun at 4.1, averaging just 13.3 turnovers per game. They also have the second best team assist to turnover ratio in NEC games at 0.94.