MERCYHURST (0-12, 0-1 NEC) at LE MOYNE (3-11, 1-0 NEC)
Sunday, Jan. 4 – 1:00 p.m.
Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team heads to Le Moyne still in search of their first NEC win of the season after falling to FDU in the conference opener Friday night.
 
The Matchup
Mercyhurst and Le Moyne meet for the 20th time Sunday afternoon in Syracuse. The game will steam on NEC Front Row with tipoff set for 1 p.m.

Le Moyne leads the all-time series 12-7. Prior to last year's two game series, the Lakers and the Dolphins last met in 2008 when both programs were Division II. The first meeting came in the 1985-86 season.
 
The Opponent
Le Moyne secured a win in its first NEC game of the year Friday over Saint Francis, 73-69. The Dolphins are 3-11 on the season with their two other wins coming over Lafayette in overtime and SUNY Geneseo.

Le Moyne was selected fourth in the NEC Preseason Poll with sophomore guard Eli Clark earning a spot on the  Preseason All-NEC Team. Clark was a member of the 2024-25 NEC All-Rookie Team, averaging 8.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per contest.

The Dolphins are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league, connecting from beyond the arc 32.1 percent of the time. Senior Sierra Linnin is third in the NEC in 3-point makes per game at 2.1.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers opened NEC play Friday evening against FDU, falling 68-46 to the Knights. Freshman Sofia Wilson led the way for the Lakers with 17 points while Cici Hernandez chipped in 10.

The Lakers took care of the ball well, only posting nine turnovers while forcing FDU into 18.
 
Protecting the Ball
The Lakers posted their second game with fewer than 10 turnovers in a game against FDU.

Excluding games against Power 4 teams, the Lakers are averaging just 14.6 turnovers per contest which would be the best in the NEC.
 
Wilson Wows
Sofia Wilson has been a significant contributor for the Lakers in the opening portion of the season. Wilson, averaging 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists, has been the Lakers leading scorer three times this season and has scored in double digits in five games.
 
Van Schaik Swipe
Jenna Van Schaik is averaging a team-high 1.5 steals per game which is good for sixth best in the NEC.
 
Walz Returns
Lena Walz returned to the Lakers' lineup against FDU. It was Walz first appearance since Nov. 30 at Canisius. Before Walz suffered her injury, she was the team's leading scorer with 12 points per game, scoring in double figures in five of seven games played.