BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – The Mercyhurst women's basketball team was well represented on the NEC postseason awards list. Sofia Wilson was named Rookie of the Year, Cici Hernandez earned Most Improved Player, and Hernadez was joined by Jenna Van Schaik on the All-NEC First Team.
 
Wilson had an outstanding rookie season for the Lakers. The 5-7 guard finished the year 16^th in scoring in the NEC overall (11.1 ppg) and 10^th in league games (13.2 ppg). In NEC play, the Avon Lake, Ohio native averaged 3.9 assists per game with a 1.5 assist to turnover ratio. Both numbers put her in the top three in the league.
 
On Feb. 19 at Wagner, Wilson recorded the first and only double-double of the year for the Lakers, scoring 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 73-67 victory. She's the first Laker freshman to record a double-double since the 2020-21 season.
 
Wilson was third on the team in scoring, first in assists (99), and first in steals (53). Her 1.8 steals per contest ranked sixth in the NEC. She was even more disruptive against NEC opponents, averaging 2.4 per game against league foe.
 
Hernadez had an outstanding sophomore season, improving in almost every stat category. Her scoring increased significantly, going from 6.2 ppg in 2025 to 14.2 in 2026. She improved even more in conference play jumping from 6.5 points per game to 17.3 year-to-year.
 
She improved her field goal percentage from 37.1 to 42.0 while taking over 160 more shots than last season. She also improved her 3-point shot, making 41.8 percent of her attempts from deep in NEC play compared to 33.9 last season. Hernandez made 46 more 3-pointers than in 2025.
 
The Bethlehem, Pa. native upped her assists year-over-year by 17 and nearly doubled the amount of steals she had last season.
 
Her production also earned her a spot on the All-NEC First Team. Her 17.3 points per contest in NEC games were second in the league while she led in 3-point makes per game (3.3), 3-point percentage (41.8), and was top five in field goal percentage (45.0).
 
Senior Van Schaik lived up to the Preseason All-NEC expectations, earning a spot on the All-NEC First Team. She averaged 14.7 points per game in conference play and 13.0 on the year, both rank in the top 10 in the league.
 
The Cincinnati, Ohio native has been excellent running the point this season for the Lakers, averaging 3.3 assists per game and 3.6 per game in conference play.
 
Van Schaik shot 45.2 percent from the field this season while leading the team in minutes per game (31.8).
 
The Lakers march into the postseason today as they host Stonehill at 6 p.m.