MERCYHURST (8-15, 8-4 NEC) vs SAINT FRANCIS (2-21, 2-10 NEC)
Saturday, Feb. 14 – 1:00 p.m.
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team is set to play the final game against Saint Francis as members of the NEC Saturday at the Mercyhurst Athletics Center. Mercyhurst defeated the Red Flash 79-59 last Thursday in Loretto.
 
Saturday's game is the team's annual Play 4 Kay event, raising awareness for breast cancer. Coach Kay Yow was a hall of fame women's basketball coach at North Carolina State. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. She passed away in 2009, after a 22-year, on-again, off-again battle with the disease. Coach Yow fought that battle in the public arena. Her hope was to inspire others to make a difference in a fight that impacts each and every one of us
 
The Opponent
The Red Flash have struggled to collect wins this season, coming into Saturday's game with a 2-21 overal record and a 2-10 mark in conference play. Their two wins came over Wagner Jan. 8 and Central Connecticut State Jan. 17.
 
Shelby Ricks and Gemma Walker have led the way for the Red Flash during NEC play, scoring 12.5 and 10.3 points per game respectively. Ricks is sixth in the league in rebounding per game (6.6) and third in blocks (1.4) during league play.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers fell to NEC leader FDU last Saturday, 84-64. Jenna Van Schaik and Cici Hernandez both scored 20 points in the loss, while Sofia Wilson added 14.

Hernandez made six shots from beyond th arc, tying her season and career high.

The Lakers were outrebounded by the Knights 50-20; however, Mercyhurst made 11-of-24 3-point attempts and had just four turnovers in the game, their least of the season.
Clinched
Mercyhurst has clinched a spot in the NEC tournament. FDU (12-0) and LIU (10-2), Wagner (7-5) and Chicago State (7.5) have also secured spots in the NEC Tournament. 
New Haven (5-7) is in the sixth seed currently, but is not eligible for the NEC Tournament in their first year of DI transition.

Le Moyne (5-7), Stonehill (4-8), SFU (2-10) and CCSU (0-12) round out the field. 

The top eight teams make the NEC tournament with the top four seeds hosting in the quarterfinal rounds.
 
Dangerous from Distance
The Lakers are leading the NEC in 3-point makes, both overall (9.0) and in conference play (9.8). Mercyhurst is also leading the league in 3-point FG percentage at 37.5 during league play.
 
Cici Hernandez is the NEC leader in 3-point makes per game (3.3) and 3-point shooting percetage (41.9).
 
Triple Threat
Cici Hernandez (17.3), Sofia Wilson (14.8), and Jenna Van Schaik (13.3) are all in the top 10 in scoring since NEC play began. LIU is the only other school with more than one player in the top 10 in scoring with Kadidia Toure (17.7) leading the league and Janessa Williams (14.7) in sixth.
 
Point Guards
Sofia Wilson and Jenna Van Schaik have been a dangerous duo at the point guard position for Mercyhurst. Both players are averaging over 13 points per game and over 3.5 assists per contest in NEC competition. Wilson is second in the league in assists per game (4.0) and third in assist to turnover ratio (1.5) while Van Schaik is third in assists (3.6) and second in assist to turnover ratio (1.6).
 
Taking Care of the Ball
The Lakers have the best turnover margin (4.5) and assist to turnover ratio (1.05) in the NEC and are averaging the fewest turnovers per contest among (12.7). The Lakers posted a season-low four turnovers at FDU Saturday. It's the fewest turnovers in a game since at least the 2011-12 season.