| Matchup |
Merrimack (0-6, 0-6 NEC) vs. LIU (3-7, 3-7 NEC) |
| Date/Time |
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 // 7 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 // 4 p.m. |
| Venue |
North Andover, Mass. // Hammel Court |
| Links |
Live Stats // Watch // Merrimack Game Notes |
| Socials |
Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's basketball team will play its first pair of two-game Northeast Conference sets on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week when the Warriors welcome Long Island University to Hammel Court. Tuesday's tip-off is set for 7 p.m. while Wednesday's action will begin at 4 p.m. Both contests can be watched for free on both NEC Front Row or by downloading the NEC On the Run app.
LAST TIME OUT
Merrimack last two games were out in Loretto, Pa. where the Warriors challenged the NEC's first-place Saint Francis University Red Flash. In both games, the Warriors utilized strong second-half performances to turn double-digit deficits into single-digit games in the fourth quarter. Sophomore
Diamond Christian played well in the first game, scoring a career-high tying 17 points while setting single-game career highs with eight rebounds and six steals. In the second game,
Mayson Kimball scored a season-best 14 points on 62 percent shooting while freshman
Nadeshka Bridgewater added eight points and four steals.
SERIES HISTORY
Last season's two matchups were the first two in program history between Merrimack and LIU. The road team won on each occasion as the Warriors set their sights on beating the Sharks for the first time on home court this week. In Merrimack's win last season in Brooklyn, Mager scored 12 points over 40 minutes while the sophomore trio of
Alana Fursman,
Kaylee Thomas and
Diamond Christian combined for 24 points. Mager played in all 40 minutes in both game against LIU, scoring 10 points in Merrimack's loss at Hammel Court.
SCOUTING THE SHARKS
Long Island has gone 2-2 over its last four games after starting the season with a 1-5 record. In the Sharks' most recent NEC series, LIU split two games against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Sharks won the first game in Hackensack, N.J, 52-46, before a 21-point loss (57-36) in the series finale. Brandy Thomas leads the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game while shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. LIU is last in the NEC in scoring offense, averaging 53.4 points per game.
Matchup Comparison
| Category |
Merrimack (0-6, 0-6 NEC) |
LIU (3-7, 3-7 NEC) |
| Scoring Offense |
55.5 |
53.4 |
| Scoring Defense |
65.7 |
58.8 |
| Field-Goal % |
37.4% |
34.2% |
| Field-Goal % Defense |
41.7% |
40.0% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % |
27.8% |
25.4% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % Defense |
30.4% |
25.7% |
| 3-PT Field Goals (Made-Attempts) |
35-126 |
47-185 |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
61.1% |
60.7% |
| Winning Percentage |
0-6 (.000) |
3-7 (.300) |
| Rebounding Margin |
+0.8 |
+1.9 |
| Assists/Game |
11.0 |
11.7 |
| Steals/Game |
10.0 |
9.1 |
| Turnovers/Game |
18.2 |
18.3 |
| Blocks/Game |
2.0 |
3.8 |
| Scoring Offense |
55.5 |
53.4 |
MILESTONES APPROACHING
Merrimack has a few individuals within striking distance of milestones as the 2020-21 season commences. Senior
Alyssa Casey boasts 895 points and 396 rebounds. She would become the 22nd 1,000-point scorer in school history. Senior
Mayson Kimball - who missed last season due to injury - has played in all six games this season and is also nearing 1,000 points, sitting on 703. Junior
Kate Mager is approaching Merrimack's 3-pointers made record, needing 35 more to set establish a new mark. She's hit 155 triples over 65 games.
NEW FACES ON THE ROSTER
The Warriors' 2020-21 roster includes four freshmen as well as a transfer student-athlete who will become eligible for her first season at Merrimack. Freshmen guards
Nadeshka Bridgewater (Lawrence, Mass.),
Grace Clary (Whitehall, Pa.) and
Cassandra Hawthorne (Hartford, Conn.) are on the roster for the first time while first-year forward
Teneisia Brown is the newest edition to the Warriors' frontcourt. Bridgewater has been impressive on the defensive end for the Warriors, totaling nine thefts over five games to tie for the team lead with 1.8 steals per game.
THE MORRONE CAPSULE
Kelly Morrone begins her tenure as the seventh head coach in the history of the Merrimack College women's basketball program. Morrone brings 117 career victories with her, spending the past seven seasons at DII John Carroll University in Ohio. Morrone brought that program to new heights, reaching its first three NCAA Tournaments over her seven-year stretch. She boasts plenty of DI experience too, playing at the University of South Carolina while coaching at William & Mary (2012-13), Rhode Island (2010-12), Davidson (2008-10) and Buffalo (2005-08).
AROUND THE NEC
Merrimack is among the NEC leaders in a few different areas. The Warriors rank second in the league at 10.0/game, and are one of just two programs in the conference averaging over 10 thefts per game. Merrimack is tied for fifth in offensive rebounds per game (11.0). On the offensive end, Merrimack is sixth with nearly six 3-point field goals made per contest.
CHRISTIAN'S HOT START
Sophomore
Diamond Christian has been Merrimack's top overall player through six games, enjoying a strong second-year leap. Christian is the team leader in points (63), assists (13), steals (11) and field goals made (26). She's made 50 percent of her shots (26-52) and 47 percent of her 3-point attempts (8-17), which both lead the team as well. She's scored in double figures three times through six games, which already equals the amount of double-figure scoring tilts over 29 games as a rookie in 2019-20.
Up Next:
Merrimack faces Central Connecticut State University for two games this week at Hammel Court. Both Saturday's and Sunday's contests will tip-off at 4 p.m., while Saturday's game will air on ESPN+.
