BLOOMSBURG (1-4, 0-2 PSAC East) at MERCYHURST (5-1, 2-0 PSAC West)
Saturday, December 3, 2016 - 1:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Mercyhurst Athletic Center

at GANNON (1-6, 1-1 PSAC West)
Sunday, December 4, 2016 - 1:00 p.m.
Erie, Pa. | Hammermill Center

GAME NOTES:
Bloomsburg vs Mercyhurst/Gannon Game Notes

GAME COVERAGE:
Live Stats (SAT): http://www.sidearmstats.com/hurst/wbball/
Live Stats (SUN): http://www.sidearmstats.com/gannon/wbball/
Live Video (SUN): http://www.gannonsports.com/watch/
Live Audio (WHLM-AM): http://www.whlmam.com

RELATED LINKS:
Bloomsburg - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Mercyhurst - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Gannon - Roster | Schedule | Statistics

LAST WEEKEND ...
Bloomsburg split a pair of games last weekend, posting a 61-41 victory at Georgian Court last Saturday before suffering a 57-48 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday. Saturday's victory was the Huskies' first of the season and the first for head coach Alison Tagliaferri in her Bloomsburg coaching career. Bloomsburg trailed 29-17 at halftime but outscored the Lions, 44-12, in the second half en route to the 20-point win. Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) led the way with 20 points and 12 rebounds while sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) chipped in 17 points. Senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) was also in double figures as she finished with 11. On Sunday, the Huskies shot a season-best 46.5% from the field but turned the ball over 26 times in the nine-point loss to the Rams. Klunk was the only player in double figures as she scored 12 points while playing all 40 minutes.

STARTING FIVE ...
1 - Through five games this season, the Huskies lead the PSAC, and are second (by percentage points) in the country, in blocked shots per game (6.8). Rollins has a slight edge in the category as it has 41 blocks through six games (6.83). Freshman Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) leads the PSAC in blocks per game (2.4) which puts her tied for 22nd in the country.

2 - Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) leads the Huskies in nearly every statistical category while leading the PSAC in minutes played per game (36.6). She is tops on the team in scoring (12.0), rebounding (6.8), assists (3.4), and steals (2.4). Klunk has moved into 13th place on the school's all-time list for career assists with 240. She needs 17 helpers to tie Kayla Oxenrider (2009-13) for 12th on the list. Klunk also needs 193 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career.

3 - Points have been tough to come by through the first five games of the season. The Huskies are 16th in the PSAC, and 291st out of 300 in the country, in points per game (53.8). However, on the flip side, Bloomsburg is third in the conference, and 30th in the country, in scoring defense (56.6).

4 - The Huskies have a very young roster that features only two seniors - Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) - and no juniors. The rest of the 12-player roster is comprised of five sophomores, one redshirt freshman, and four true freshmen. One of the sophomores, Allie Barber (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area), joins the team for the first time this season. Barber was an All-PSAC Second Team selection and an NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) All-Atlantic Region Third Team honoree for the Huskies' women's soccer team this fall.

5 - A pair of freshmen - Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) and Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) - have made their presence felt early. Corridoni is tied for third on the team in scoring (8.8) and is third on the team in rebounding (5.2) through five games. She is also third on the team with five blocked shots. Meanwhile, Montana is averaging 6.0 points and 4.4 rebounds while posting a team-high 12 blocked shots. Her 2.4 blocks per game has the early lead in the PSAC.

THE SERIES ...
Bloomsburg leads the all-time series against Mercyhurst, 7-3, but trails the all-time series against Gannon, 7-2.

LAST MEETING AGAINST MERCYHURST ...
The teams last played on December 4, 2015 at the Nelson Field House with the Huskies needing double overtime to knock off the Lakers, 66-61. Mercyhurst had a five-point lead heading to the fourth quarter eventually took a three-point lead with 15 seconds left in regulation. However, the Lakers' Hayley Andres hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left to force overtime. After the first overtime was tied at 5-5, the Huskies outscored Mercyhurst, 10-5, in the second overtime to escape with the win. Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) flirted with a triple-double for the Huskies as she posted 17 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high seven blocks. Mia Hopkins (Pittston/Pittston Area) had 17 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and five steals while Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) added ten points apiece in the win. Angela Heintz flirted with a triple-double for the Lakers with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Natalie Piaggesi added 13 points in the loss.
 
SCOUTING THE LAKERS ...
Mercyhurst is off to a fast start as it enters Saturday's contest with a 5-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the PSAC Western Division. The Lakers are seventh in the Atlantic Region according to the latest Division II Conference Commissioners Association released on Monday. Mercyhurst won its first five games of the season - equaling the program's best start since 1996-97. Mercyhurst split a pair of games at the Ashland University Tournament last Saturday and Sunday - defeating Hillsdale, 77-65, before dropping its first game of the year to the hosts, and the  second-ranked team in the country - Ashland, 85-59. Natalie Piaggesi leads the Lakers in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game. She also leads in field goal percentage (59.3%) and blocked shots (11) while shooting a perfect 17-of-17 from the foul line. She is also second on the team in rebounding (5.3) and third in assists (2.3). Angela Heintz is second in scoring (13.5), third in rebounding (5.2), and tops in assists (5.0) and steals (2.3). Jalin Steel is also in double figures, averaging 11.7 points per game while leading the team with 13 three-pointers.

LAST MEETING AGAINST GANNON ...
One day after needing double overtime to knock off Mercyhurst last season, Bloomsburg struggled to regroup and suffered an 82-63 loss to the visiting Golden Knights on December 5, 2015. Gannon jumped out to a 25-13 lead after the opening quarter before the Huskies fought back and took a five-point lead, 57-52, with 4:12 left in the third quarter. However, Gannon outscored Bloomsburg, 30-6, over the final 14 minutes for the 19-point victory. The Huskies had five players in double figures, led by Mia Hopkins (Pittston/Pittston Area) who had 12 points and nine rebounds. Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Gannon had four players in double figures led by Brianna Brennan who posted a game-high 20 points. McKenna Shives (17), Morgan Neighbors (13), and Jennie Thies (13 points, 14 rebounds) were also in double digits.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS ...
Gannon is 1-6 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC Western Division and is scheduled to play at home against Lock Haven on Saturday. The Golden Knights last played at Findlay on November 27 and dropped a 56-47 decision to the Oilers in Findlay, Ohio. The Golden Knights are averaging only 51.6 points per game on offense - 17th in the PSAC and 299th out of 300 teams ranked in the country. They are ahead of only Cheyney (51.0) in both the conference and in the country. The offense runs through Maggie Mitchell who is third in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game. She is the only player averaging double figures in scoring and has hit 19 of the team's 30 three-pointers. Mitchell is also 35-of-39 (89.7%) from the free throw line this season. Lanise Saunders is next in line, averaging 8.4 points per game while leading the team in rebounding (9.1). Gannon is shooting only 33.2% from the field and has turned the ball over 158 times through seven games (22.6).

BLOCK PARTY ...
Through five games this season, the Huskies are tops in the conference, and second (by percentage points) in the country, in blocked shots per game (6.8). Bloomsburg has blocked 34 shots though five games and trails only Rollins (6.83) in that department. Rollins has blocked 41 shots through six games. The Huskies have blocked at least four shots in all five games and have blocked ten shots in a game twice - against Chestnut Hill on November 22 and at Philadelphia on November 27. Freshman Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) is tops in the PSAC, and tied for 22nd in the country, in blocks per game (2.4).

LOW SCORING ...
Bloomsburg comes into the weekend having scored more than 60 points in a game only one time this season (61 at Georgian Court on November 26) and is averaging only 53.8 points per game - 16th in the PSAC and 291st in the country. The Huskies average more points than only Gannon and Cheyney in the PSAC and only nine schools in the country. The Huskies have shot better than 40% in a game only once this season (46.5% at Philadelphia on November 27). However, the Huskies' defense has allowed only 60, or more, points in a game twice and allow only 56.6 points per game to their opponents. That figure is the third-best in the PSAC and is the 30th-best scoring defense in the country. Only IUP (52.0) and Shippensburg (54.7) have better defenses in the conference.

SLOW STARTS ...
In the first quarter of games this season, the Huskies have been outscored, 71-49, and have trailed after the opening ten minutes in three of the five games, including a 19-4 deficit in the team's only win of the season at Georgian Court on November 26. However, in the other three quarters, the Huskies have outscored their opponents, 220-212, which includes an 85-65 margin in the third quarter.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP ...
With only two seniors and no juniors entering the season, a lot of focus has been on the lone upperclassmen - Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township). Klunk has been a mainstay on the floor as she leads the PSAC in minutes played per game (36.6). She is tops on the team in scoring (12.0), rebounding (6.8), assists (3.4), and steals (2.4). She also posted her first double-double of the season, and fourth of her career, with 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Huskies' 61-41 win at Georgian Court on November 26. Klunk has moved into 13th place on the school's all-time career assists list with 240 and she needs 193 points to reach the 1,000-career point milestone. Ross, meanwhile, has also done some of everything for the Huskies as she is tied for third on the team in scoring (8.8), second in rebounding (6.0), tied for third in assists (1.8), second in blocks (1.8), and third in steals (1.2). Ross is 11 blocks shy of moving into the top 15 on the school's list for career blocked shots.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP ...
Three sophomores that saw decent playing time last season have stepped up their roles through the first five games this year. Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), who averaged 7.1 points per game last season, is up to 11.8 points per game this season and is second on the team in scoring. Casey Warley (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) has started four games this season and, after averaging only 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds a year ago, is up to 3.4 points and 3.6 boards this season. Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) has also increased from 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds to 2.4 and 1.4, respectively, this season.

HUSKIES FOR HIE ...
The women's basketball team held a benefit during its season opener against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, November 19, for three-year-old Luke Antolick who has been diagnosed with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Luke's parents, Lance and Alyson, grew up with BU head coach Alison Tagliaferri while Alyson, the former Alyson Taylor, played softball at Bloomsburg from 2003-06. The benefit, which is still going on through a GoFundMe page, has raised more than $1,000 for the Antolick family to help with medical expenses. For more information or to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/luke-antolick-benefit-fund.

A LOOK AT THE EXHIBITIONS ...
The Huskies played exhibition contests against two Division I schools prior to the start of the regular season. Bloomsburg dropped an 85-41 decision at Penn State on October 30. Freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) scored nine points to lead the Huskies while fellow freshman Ciara Forde (Glenmoore, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) added eight in the loss. The Huskies shot only 29.8% from the field and turned the ball over 29 times to the Nittany Lions. Then, on November 4, the Huskies dropped a 65-45 decision at Buffalo. Sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) led the way with 14 points while also pulling down eight rebounds. Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) added 13 points and a team-high nine boards. After falling behind 39-17 at halftime, the Huskies outscored the Bulls, 28-26, in the second half.

TAG, YOU'RE IT ...
Alison Tagliaferri takes over the reins as the head coach of the Bloomsburg women's basketball team after serving four seasons as the head coach at Mansfield. Tagliaferri replaces Bill Cleary who, after eight seasons, departed for Division I Colgate University. Cleary went 164-69 in his eight seasons with the Huskies and posted a 97-42 record against PSAC opponents. Bloomsburg reached double figures in wins in all eight years under Cleary's tutelage. Tagliaferri is certainly no stranger to the PSAC East. Prior to her four-year coaching stint at her alma mater, Tagliaferri was a force on the floor for the Mountaineers from 2002-06. She departed as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,795 points and is the most accurate shooter in program history (48.4%). She also ranks first in Mansfield's record books in career blocks (130) and free throws made (457) while ranking fourth in rebounds (852). During her senior season, she was named the PSAC East Player of the Year to become the first Mansfield women's athlete ever to earn the distinction. In 2011, Tagliaferri was inducted into both the Mansfield University Athletic/Alumni Hall of Fame as well as the West Branch Hall of Fame.

UP NEXT ...
The Huskies will not play again until going back on the road next Saturday, December 10, to battle the Golden Eagles of Clarion. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Huskies are 20-12 lifetime against Clarion.