West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball opens the 2023-24 season on Friday and Saturday afternoons on the hilltop as they welcome Mercyhurst and Edinboro to the ASRC. As part of the Atlantic Region Crossover event, the Hilltoppers will face-off against the PSAC foes at 4 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday respectively.

GAME DETAILS

• Location: West Liberty, W.Va. (Academic Sports & Recreation Center "ASRC")
• Tip-Off: Friday at 4 P.M.; Saturday at 6 P.M.
• Tournament Central: For the complete weekend schedule and details visit the attached tournament central link above.

WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES

• West Liberty posted their second consecutive winning record a year ago with an overall mark of 17-12 and a 15-7 record in Mountain East Conference play to finish fifth in the league standings. The Hilltoppers' season ended in the quarterfinal round of the MEC Women's Basketball Tournament with an 86-71 loss to Fairmont State.
• Entering the season West Liberty was tabbed fifth in the MEC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• In 29 games last season, West Liberty averaged 80.2 points, 38.4 rebounds, 19.1 assists, 4.6 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 46.9 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from 3-point range, and 73.4 percent from the free throw line.
• Last season West Liberty ranked within the top-10 statistically in NCAA Division II in five statistical categories, ranking second in assists per game (19.1) and 3-point percentage (38.6), third in 3-pointers per game (10.4), and sixth in field goal percentage (.469) and scoring offense (80.2).
• Second Team All-MEC member Karly McCutcheon returns as the leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. She ranked seventh in DII last season with 3.07 3-pointers per game, ninth with 89 total three pointers in 2022-23, and was 12^th nationally with a 3-point percentage of 43.0 percent.
• McCutcheon is joined by key returners Corinne Thomas and Grace Faulk. Thomas averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while Faulk averaged 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Faulk ranked 12^th nationally with 82 total 3-pointers last year, was 13^th with 2.83 3-pointers per game, and was 28^th in the country with a 40.2 3-point percentage.
• After sitting out last season due to an injury, the 2021-22 MEC Freshman of the Year will be back in the lineup for the Hilltoppers. Bailee Smith led WLU in scoring her first season on the hilltop with 15.2 points and added 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
• Newcomers for West Liberty this season include freshmen Sophie Abraham, Reagan Vinskovich, and transfer Camryn Felix (Bloomsburg)
• Kyle Cooper enters his seventh season as the head coach at West Liberty with a career record of 92-73 with the Hilltoppers.

MERCYHURST STORYLINES

• With a record of 15-14 overall and 10-12 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play, Mercyhurst posted their most wins in a season since the 2016-17 season when they went 24-8 and qualified for the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament.
• The Lakers finished the 2022-23 season tied for seventh in the West Division of the PSAC conference standings and did not qualify for the PSAC Women's Basketball Tournament.
• In 29 games last season the Lakers averaged 69.9 points, 34.8 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 7.2 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting the ball 42.1 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from 3-point range, and 76.0 percent from the free throw line.
• The Lakers led the PSAC in 3-point percentage (36.8%) and 3-point field goals per game (8.0) last season and ranked ninth and 23^rd respectively in NCAA Division II.
• Entering the season Mercyhurst was tabbed seventh in the PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Mercyhurst played one exhibition game prior to the start of the season as they dropped a 91-61 game at Niagara. The Lakers were led by Bailey Kuhns with ten points, three rebounds, and one assist while Grace Clary scored seven points off 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc.
• The Lakers return three starters from last season, Danielle Grim, Julia Buchman, and Paige Woodford. After losing their top two scorers from last season, Grim is the top returner with 9.7 points and added 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per game.
• Buchman and Lexi Wagner are threats from beyond the arc as they shot the ball 37.3 percent and 42.6 percent respectively from 3-point range last season.
• Mercyhurst brings in four NCAA Division I transfers with Singo Lekeuneu (Duquesne), Maria McConnell (St. Francis), Kate Deutsch (Fordham), and Allyson Ross (Wintrhop). McConnell played in 27 games and averaged 7.6 minutes per game for the Red Flash a year ago, while Ross appeared in 24 contests for the Ealges and averaged 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per game.
• Brooklyn Kohlheim enters her sixth season as the head coach at Mercyhurst with a record of 43-59 during her time with the Lakers. Overall, she is entering her seventh season as a head coach in collegiate women's basketball, previously spending one season at Lake Erie, and has posted a career record of 54-75.

SERIES HISTORY

• West Liberty leads the all-time series 9-2 and has won five straight in the series.
• The Hilltoppers edged the Lakers 108-107 in double overtime last year on November 12, 2022 in Wehrle Arena in Charleston, West Virginia.
• Karly McCutcheon shot the ball 9-of-11 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc for 30 points against the Lakers, while adding eight assists and five rebounds.

EDINBORO STORYLINES

• Edinboro posted a record of 17-12 overall and 13-9 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play, finishing tied for third in the West Division of the league standings.
• The Fighting Scots finished the season in the quarterfinal round of the PSAC Women's Basketball Tournament, falling 70-62 to California (PA) after an opening round win of 79-61 over Seton Hill.
• Edinboro was tabbed fourth in the West Division of the PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• In 29 games last season the Fighting Scots averaged 73.6 points, 38.0 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 11.3 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting the ball 39.1 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from 3-point range, and 73.4 percent from the free throw line.
• Last season Edinboro ranked within the top-25 statistically in NCAA Division II in five statistical categories, ranking 14^th in turnovers forced per game (21.90), 15^th in turnover margin (+6.31), 16^th in 3-point field goal attempts per game (25.9), 21^st in steals per game (11.3), and 23^rd in 3-pointers per game (8.0)
• Three starters return from last season, highlighted by First Team All-PSAC performer Hayley Sims who averaged 14.7 points to go along with 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
• Other returners from the starting lineup include Lauren Mullen and Morgan Gentile. Mullen averaged 6.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while Gentile averaged 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
• Callie Wheeler enters her sixth season as the head coach at Edinboro with a career record of 68-44 with the Fighting Scots.

SERIES HISTORY

• Edinboro leads the all-time series 7-6 and has won the last two meetings.
• The teams last met on November 28, 2016 at the McComb Fieldhouse in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, as the Fighting Scots notched an 87-52 win.