MERCYHURST (1-13, 1-2 NEC) vs WAGNER (6-8, 2-1 NEC)
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 1:00 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletics Center
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team continues its homestand Saturday as Wagner comes to Erie for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff. The Lakers are 1-1 against the Seahawks all-time, winning on Staten Island last season, 63-57. The game will stream on NEC Front Row.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers fell in a closely fought battle to LIU Thursday evening at the MAC, 86-81. Cici Hernandez and Sofia Wilson led the way for the Lakers with 25 and 20 respectively.
 
After going down by as much as 14 in the second quarter, the Lakers battled back in the third, making it a 2-point game with less than a minute in remaining in the third stanza thanks to a layup from Erica Hall.
 
The Lakers continued to fight in the fourth quarter but couldn't pull ahead.
 
Offensive Onslaught
The Lakers have scored in the 80s in back-to-back games for the first time this season and the first time since 2020 when they beat Salem 82-61 and Miles College 81-52.
 
The Lakers are averaging 72 points per contest in conference play so far.
 
Heating Up in NEC Play
Sofia Wilson and Cici Hernandez have been excellent in conference play. Both are in the top five in scoring in NEC games. Wilson is second in the league, averaging 18.7 points against NEC Foes. Wilson is also top five in assists per contests against league opponents dishing out four per game. 
 
3-point Shot
Mercyhurst is in the top 30 nationally in 3-point makes per game, averaging 8.6 per contest. The Lakers have made 10 or more from deep five times this season.
 
Cici H3rnandez
Hernandez is topping the league in 3-point shooting percentage in NEC games, connecting from deep on 44 percent of her attempts. She is also averaging the most 3-point makes per game during league play at 3.7.
 
Protecting the Ball
The Lakers have the second-best turnover margin since NEC play has begun at 4.33. They are behind only Wagner who has a 5.33 turnover margin against conference opponents.
 
The Lakers are averaging just 12 turnovers per game since NEC games began.
 
Bench Points
The Lakers are averaging 20.1 points off the bench, good for fourth in the NEC. Chicago St. (23.7), Wagner (22.9), and LIU (23.0) are the only teams in the NEC with more bench production.