Lakers Welcome Ashland and Findlay To The MAC This Week - MERCYHURST COLLEGE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Jan. 8, 2008

THE MATCHUPS: Mercyhurst hosts both Ashland and Findlay for the final time as GLIAC opponents this week. The Lakers are 11-18 all-time against Ashland and the Eagles have won nine consecutive meetings. Findlay holds a 16-4 advantage in the all-time series but the two schools split last year's series and the Lakers have won three of the past four contests.
LAST YEAR AGAINST ASHLAND: Mercyhurst had no answer for then-senior Amber Rall as Ashland defeated the Lakers 94-82 in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center a year ago. Rall scored 42 points and the Lakers tried to hang close behind 29 points and 12 rebounds from Julie Anderson, but it was not enough. In the second game, Rall scored 19 points as Ashland picked up a 78-60 win in Ohio. Priscila Nascimento had a team-high 15 points for Mercyhurst.
LAST YEAR AGAINST FINDLAY: Mercyhurst battled back from an 18-point first half deficit to outscore Findlay 46-21 in the second half and beat the Oilers 75-59 in the MAC a year ago. Julie Anderson had 24 points and nine rebounds in the win. In the contest at Findlay, the Oilers scored the final eight points, including a Brittany Wells' jumper at the buzzer to pick up a 60-58 victory. Stephanie Prischak had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.
THE COACHES: Mercyhurst head coach Deanna Richard is in her first season at Mercyhurst, currently posting a 5-9 record. She has a career mark of 66-101, including a record of 61-92 in six seasons at Division III Olivet College. Ashland head coach Sue Ramsey has been at Ashland for 13 years, compiling a record of 201-162. Prior to Ashland, she served as head coach for eight seasons at Division I University of Dayton bringing her overall record to 296-292 as a head coach. Findlay head coach Kate Cummings is currently in her second year as head coach of the Oilers. Last year, the Oilers went 6-21 overall and 2-15 in the GLIAC. Prior to Findlay, Coach Cummings spent 11 years at Ohio Dominican where she earned a record of 204-144.
SCOUTING MERCYHURST: Mercyhurst had a three-game winning streak snapped in an 85-68 loss to Gannon Saturday. The Lakers went 5-5 in non-conference games but the team is still looking to pick up its first conference win. Mercyhurst continues to be one of the most efficient teams in the GLIAC, ranking in the top four in field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage.
SCOUTING ASHLAND: No Ashland player is averaging more than 11.6 points per game but the Eagles are getting balanced offense and are five in the GLIAC in scoring. The team has been stellar defensively, holding opponents to 41.5 percent shooting and outrebounding opponents by 5.0 per game. As well, the Eagles are forcing almost three turnovers more per game than they are committing.
SCOUTING FINDLAY: Findlay has played eight straight home games before this weekend's Erie swing for games with Gannon and Mercyhurst. The Oilers have not been on the road since a 64-55 loss to Grand Valley State Dec. 8 and Findlay is only 1-4 away from its home floor. The Oilers are the top shooting team in the GLIAC and are led by Brittany Wells' 13.1 points per game.

QUICK HITS
• Mercyhurst is playing its final season as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) before moving to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) next year. Mercyhurst went 3-1 against PSAC schools this year, picking up wins over Mansfield, Edinboro and Lock Haven, coupled with a loss to Slippery Rock.
• Freshman Amy Achesinski ranks fourth in all of NCAA Division II in field goal percentage. She is the only freshman ranked in the top 50 in that category.
• Mercyhurst is 31-of-69 (44.9 percent) on three-point attempts over the past three contests.
• As a team, the Lakers are on pace to break the single season school records for field goal percentage and three-point percentage. Mercyhurst is shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three-point range this year, ranking second in the GLIAC in that category.
• Stephanie Prischak is the all-time leader in career free-throw percentage at Mercyhurst. At 83.9 percent (99-of-118), she ranks just ahead of Tricia Mahoney (82.7 percent from 1979-83). She is also on pace to break the school record for three-point shooting in a season. At 51.1 percent, she is well ahead of Amy Galla's 46.2 percent shooting in 2000-01. If she slips, Samantha Loadman is right behind at 48.2 percent.