Preview: Mercyhurst Lakers at Wagner Seahawks NEW YORK (Interstat) — A tightly contested Northeast Conference women’s basketball race continues Thursday when the Wagner Seahawks host the Mercyhurst Lakers at Spiro Sports Center. Both teams enter the Feb. 19 matchup seeking consistency in the final stretch of the regular season. Wagner (11-13 overall) holds a slight edge in the standings over Mercyhurst (9-15), making this a pivotal game for postseason positioning. The Seahawks look to rebound from a defensive struggle, a 52-37 home loss to Stonehill on Feb. 14 where they shot just 23.2% from the field. Wagner’s strength has been its defense, holding opponents to 41 points or fewer in two of its last five wins. Forward Irene Fernandez de Caleya, a key two-way player, averages 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds over her last six games and will be central to Wagner’s efforts. Mercyhurst arrives with momentum from an offensive explosion, an 85-61 victory over Saint Francis (PA) on Feb. 14. The Lakers were led by a career-high 26 points from guard Lena Walz, who also added eight rebounds and three assists. Walz has been a barometer for the Lakers; in the team’s last three wins, she averaged 17.7 points, compared to 5.5 points in their last two losses. This game is a quick rematch of a Jan. 10 thriller, which Mercyhurst won 69-66 at home. Walz contributed 14 points in that victory, while Wagner’s Fernandez de Caleya posted 12 points and seven rebounds. The matchup hinges on contrasting styles: Wagner aims to impose a grinding, defensive tempo, while Mercyhurst will rely on the hot hand of Walz and the offensive flow showcased in its latest win. The Seahawks will need more offensive production after being held under 50 points in three of their last five games. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Spiro Sports Center on the Wagner campus.