MERCYHURST (1-12, 1-1 NEC) vs LIU (7-6, 2-0 NEC)
Thursday, Jan. 8 – 6:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletics Center
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team and LIU square off on the hardwood for the first time this season Thursday evening. The Lakers welcome the Sharks to the Mercyhurst Athletics Center for a 6 p.m. tipoff. The game will be streamed on NEC Front Row.

Last Time Out
The Lakers secured their first win of the season in blow out fashion at Le Moyne Sunday afternoon. The Lakers got out to a hot start, outscoring the Dolphins 25-9 in the opening frame.
 
Mercyhurst stretched the lead out to 36 in the third quarter before their eventual 17-point victory. Five different Lakers reached double figures in the win.
 
The win marked the first victory in Erin Mills-Reid's head coaching career.
 
The Opponent
LIU, picked eighth in the preseason poll, comes into Thursday's game with a 7-6 overall record and a 2-0 mark in NEC games.
 
First year head coach Neil Harrow has gotten the program out to a hot start in league play with a 72-56 win over Central Connecticut State and a 60-51 victory over Chicago State.
 
Senior forward Kadidia Toure is leading the NEC in scoring (18.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.4 rbg). Toure, coming to LIU by way of James Madison and Arizona State, has scored 20 or more points in six contests this season.
 
2x NEC Rookie of the Week
Sofia Wilson earned her second NEC Rookie of the Week honors after stellar performances against FDU and Le Moyne. The frosh averaged 18 points per game, while tacking on six rebounds, six steals and seven assists.
 
Hot Shooting
The Lakers made a season-high 15 3-point shots at Le Moyne. Alena Fusetti and Cici Hernandez each made four from beyond the arc while Lena Walz and Erica Hall added two apiece and Wilson, Shannon Heine, and Quinn Borroni chipped in one.
 
The 15 makes from deep are the most in the Division I era and the most since the Lakers made 19 against Roberts Wesleyan in 2022.
 
3-point Shot
The Lakers aren't afraid to shoot the ball from deep. Mercyhurst is 15th nationally in 3-point attempts per game with 28.2.
 
DI Records
The Lakers' 89 points against the Dolphins are the most scored against a Division I team in program history. The previous record was 83 set last season in an overtime loss to Mount St. Mary's.
 
Sunday's game was also the first time the Lakers have had five players score in double figures against a DI foe.
 
Bench Points
The Lakers are averaging 21.2 points off the bench per game, good for fourth in the NEC. Chicago State, Wagner, and LIU are the only teams in the league with more bench production.