MERCYHURST (11-15, 11-4 NEC) vs CCSU (1-25, 1-14 NEC)
Thursday, February 25 – 12:00 p.m.
TV: NEC Front Row
 
The Mercyhurst women's basketball team returns home for their final three games of the regular season. Mercyhurst welcomes CCSU Thursday before hosting Stonehill Saturday for senior day and Le Moyne next Thursday for the final game of the regular season.
 
The Opponent
Central Connecticut State secured their first win of the season last Saturday against Chicago State, 86-75. Lucia Noin earned NEC Co-Player of the Week for her performance, recording 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists against Chicago State.

Noin is sixth in the conference in scoring during NEC play (14.7 ppg) and 18th in rebounding (4.9) while shooting at a 43.7 percent clip.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers went 2-0 last weekend in New York City, taking down Wagner, 73-67 and LIU, 58-55. Jenna Van Schaik went off for a career-high 29 points against Wagner while Sofia Wilson added the Lakers' first double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Van Schaik and Hernandez each posted 17 points against LIU, helping the team to a season series split with the Sharks.
 
NEC Player of the Week
Jenna Van Schaik was named the NEC Co-Player of the Week for her performance against Wagner and LIU. The senior guard averaged 23 points, four rebounds, two assists, and 1.5 steals per game.  Van Schaik set a new career-high in points at Wagner with 29, converting 14-of-17 attempts at the free throw line.
 
Playoff Picture
Mercyhurst has clinched home court advantage for the quarterfinals of the NEC Tournament. The Lakers can rise to the two seed if they win out and LIU loses at least one of its final three games.
 
Win Out 
Mercyhurst has the chance to secure their best conference winning percentage since the 2016-17 season with wins in their final three games. If the Lakers win out in the regular season, they will finish with a 14-4 record for a 77.7 winning percentage, besting their 77.2 percent clip in 2016-17 when they went 17-5 in PSAC play.

The Lakers sit at 11-4 coming into the final three games, a 73.3 winning percentage.
 
Ranking Nationally
Mercyhurst is 10th nationally in 3-point makes per game (9.3) tied with Montana.

Mercyhurst leads the NEC in 3-point makes, both overall and in conference play (10.2). Mercyhurst is also leading the league in 3-point FG percentage at 36.8  during league play.

Cici Hernandez is the NEC leader in 3-point makes per game (3.2) and 3-point shooting percentage (41.0).
 
Next Woman Up
Cici Hernandez (17.3), Jenna Van Schaik (13.9), Sofia Wilson (13.5), and Lena Walz (10.5) are all in the top 20 in scoring since NEC play began. No other school has more than two players in the top 20 in scoring. Hernandez, Wilson, and Van Schaik are all in the top-10 with Hernandez ranking second in the league.
 
Freshman Phenom
Sofia Wilson recorded the Lakers first double-double of the season at Wagner Thursday. Wilson is the first true freshman to record a double-double for the Lakers since Grace Centrulla in the 2020-21 season. Centrulla had three double-doubles in her freshman season.