MCCC Women's Basketball Off to 10-3 Start 

 

 

In their first season in three years, Mercer women’s basketball heads into the second half of the season with a 10-3 record.   The Vikings will begin play in the New Year on January 14th and play eleven games, with their last regular season game on February 18th.   In their remaining games, MCCC will look to continue their strong play and secure a spot in the Region 19 Playoffs.

 

The Vikings are strong on both sides of the ball and have multiple offensive threats.  Mercer is 17^th in the nation in points per game, averaging 77.7 points per game.   Along with a lot of points,  Mercer dishes out a lot of assists, 18.2 per game, which is 14^th best in the nation.  On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings create a lot of turnovers, 26.3 per game, which is 12^th best in the nation.  Mercer is also 19^th in the nation in steals per game, averaging 14.7 per game.

 

The Vikings have been led by sophomore Gabriella Ross (Lakehurst, NJ/Monsignor Donovan Catholic) who is averaging 21.8 points per game, tenth best in Division II women's basketball.  Ross is also averaging 3.8 steals per game.

 

Freshman Zaakirah Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/Mastery Charter) is averaging 9.8 points per game, 5.9 assists per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.  Edwards has 77 assists this season, which is ninth best in the nation.  Freshman Alexandra Garcia Galen (Barcelona, Spain) is averaging 11.9 points per game, 5.7 assists per game and 3.3 rebounds per game.  Garcia Galen has 74 assists on the season, 11^th best in the nation and just three assists behind teammate Edwards.

 

Freshman Jayla Jones (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) has worked herself into the starting lineup and is averaging 7.6 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game.  Sophomore Lia Sekhniashvili (Madrid, Spain/American School of Madrid) has given the Vikings key minutes, averaging 7.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game.

 

The focus in the second half of the season for the Vikings will be on not just securing a spot in the Region 19 Playoffs, but gaining a top seed.  The challenge is that two of the top teams in the country are in Region 19, with #4 ranked Union College, who is 13-0 and beat MCCC 88-67 on November 19th and #19 ranked Harcum College who beat MCCC 66-44 on November 23rd.  Two of the Vikings three losses were against these two opponents and the third loss was also against a Region opponent in a 77-76 loss vs Lackawanna on December 10th.  Two of the Vikings games in the New Year will be against these opponents as they will travel to Union on January 14^th and host Harcum on January 18^th.  Mercer will face Lackawanna again on February 4^th on the road.

 

The Vikings currently sit tied in fourth place in the Region 19 standings.  Union is in first at 8-0 in the Region, Lackawanna in second with a 6-2 Region record and Harcum in third with a 5-2 Region record.  Mercer is 5-3 in the Region, tied with Raritan Valley, who the Vikings beat 75-49 on November 21^st.

 

As with most things in the New Year, a lot is still to be determined and the same is true for MCCC women’s basketball.  But one thing that is certain is that Vikings’ women’s basketball is back.

 

For the latest on Mercer women’s basketball, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_women_basketball.shtml