Women's Hoops Back Home For Conference Showdown With Greyhounds on Saturday
Game Notes (pdf)
The Particulars:
The Merrimack women's basketball team will return home for a conference contest with the Assumption Greyhounds on Saturday afternoon. Merrimack is coming off of an 73-64 loss at the hands of the Pace Setters on Wednesday. Assumption enters the contest after losing their last contest to the Saint Michaels by the score of 62-56.
About Merrimack:
The Warriors are led by Gennifer Roy who is averaging a team-high 15.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest this season. Roy is coming off of a 12 point outing against Pace, shooting 4-15 from the field. Kelly Schatzlein is second on the team in scoring averaging 15.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. Schatzlein is coming off of a 22 point and 14 rebound effort against Pace on Wednesday. Schatzlein recorded her tenth double-double in the defeat. The freshman guard duo of Chloe Rothman and Allison Wagner have performed well so far with Rothman averaging 10.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds and Wagner averaging 6.5 points and hitting a team-high 26 threes. Jaclyn Lyons is averaging a team-high 5.4 points off the bench.
About The Competition:
The Greyhounds enter Saturday's contest with a 13-5 overall record after losing their last game against Saint Michaels by the score of 62-56. Assumption is led offensively by Kelly Meredith who is averaging 19.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Gabrielle Gibson is averaging 13.4 points and 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game so far this season. Katy Howard is contributing with 13.2 points and 4.1 assists per game this season while starting all 18 games. The Greyhounds are averaging an amazing 70.3 points per contest this season while holding down the fifth seed in the conference.
All-Time Series:
The Warriors are 21-32 all-time against Assumption. The Warriors were defeated in their only game last season against the Greyhounds 78-54 at Assumption.
Last Game (Merrimack 64 - Pace 73):
The Merrimack women's basketball team was defeated on Wednesday night by the Pace Setters by the score of 73-64 in Pleasantville, N.Y. The Warriors were led on the day by Kelly Schatzlein who recorded her eleventh double-double of the season as she had a team-high 22 points and 14 rebounds in the loss. Four Warriors scored in double figures for the game including Gennifer Roy who had 12, Allison Wagner who had 14 and Chloe Rothman who scored 10. The Warriors struggled to protect the ball once again as they turned the ball over 15 times which turned into 22 Setter points. Pace shot an amazing 95.2 percent from the free throw line as they sank 20-21 free throw opportunities to seal the game down the stretch. Merrimack had a one point halftime lead but they were not able to hold onto the lead in the second half, losing by nine. The Warriors and Setters both scored 32 points in the paint on the night and the Setters held the slight advantage in bench scoring, 8-4.
Roy Continues to Climb All-Time Scoring Charts:
Senior guard Gennifer Roy had another steady performance on Wednesday as she scored 12 points. Roy finished the game going 5-14 from the floor and 1-1 from the free throw line. Roy also grabbed three rebounds and dished out a season-high four assists. With her performance on Monday Roy is in 5th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,307 career points. Roy is 53 points shy of fourth place on the Merrimack womens basketball scoring charts. The senior has led the team in scoring eight times this season. Roy is averaging 15.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game this year.
Schatzlein Continues Double-Double Tear:
Junior forward Kelly Schatzlein continued her steady play for the Warriors as she recorded a team-high 22 points and 14 rebounds in the loss. Schatzlein is second in the conference in rebounds with 10.4 per contest and second in blocks per contest with 1.7 a game. She is also third in the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 56.1 percent. Schatzlein is now averaging 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest this season. Schatzlein has racked up a team-high 11 double-doubles through eighteen games this year and has led the team in rebounding in 15 of 18 games.
Points Off of Turnovers And Second Chance Points Hinder Warriors:
One of the biggest problems for the Warriors team all year has been allowing their opponents to get on the offensive glass. The Warriors allowed 13 offensive rebounds on Wednesday night that led to 13 points. The Setters outscored the Warriors 13-6 for the game as Merrimack grabbed 12 offensive boards. The Warriors turned the ball over 15 times on the night and Pace was able to turn those turnovers into 22 points. Merrimack forced 10 turnovers and turned those into 13 points on the other end. The Warriors have have lost the points of turnovers category three straight games.
Rothman Continues Strong Point Guard Play:
Freshman point guard Chloe Rothman continued her solid play running the team on Wednesday night as she recorded 10 points, two assists and two rebounds in the loss. Rothman went 4-11 from the field including 2-4 from three point range. Rothman is now averaging 10.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds per contest in her freshman year.
Merrimack's New Head Coach Monique LeBlanc:
Monique LeBlanc is enterng her first season as head coach of the Merrimack Warriors. LeBlanc brings over seven years of division I coaching experience to North Andover. LeBlanc spent the last three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northern Arizona University.
