This Week: The Notre Dame College women's basketball team will tip-off their 2022-23 campaign at the Conference Challenge in Erie, Pa. First, the Falcons will see competition from Edinboro University on Friday, Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m., before turning around to face Gannon University on Saturday Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Records: Last season, NDC finished with a 15-14 record, including going 13-9 inside the Mountain East Conference. EU held a record of 14-12 (11-10 PSAC), as GU went 24-7 (16-6 PSAC).
 
Coaches Corner: Imani Gordon is in her second season as the head coach of Notre Dame College, holding a career record of 15-14. Kallie Wheeler begins her third season with Edinboro, maintaining a career mark of 37-20. Lastly, Cleve Wright is in his fourth year of his second stint with Gannon. Wright is in his 14^th season overall with the program, at a career record of 295-114.
 
Rankings: Gannon is currently receiving votes to be ranked according to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Preseason Poll.
 
Series History: This will be the first ever meeting between NDC and EU come Friday. The Falcons are 0-1 all-time when facing Gannon, dating back to their only meeting on Dec. 5, 2012 when GU won 64-57 in South Euclid.
 
Noting the Falcons: Last season, Notre Dame continued their streak of making the MEC Tournament every season since joining the conference in 2013. NDC also earned a victory in the postseason for the third year in a row (69-59 vs. Concord), before falling to No. 1 Glenville State in the Semifinals 85-69.
 
Notre Dame returns leading scorer in redshirt sophomore Alana Ellis who ranked 10^th in the MEC with 14.9 points per game. She led NDC with 165 field goals made and 408 field goals attempted, while ranking second in minutes played (876) and three-pointers made (39). In addition, Ellis is the Falcons leading returning rebounder at 3.7 rebounds per game.
 
Sophomore Lilee Carlson is the other double-digit scorer returning for NDC at 11.0 ppg. Carlson led the team in minutes played (957), free throws made (99), assists (74) and steals (37), while finishing second in blocked shots (11) and third in field goals made (103) and rebounds (102).
 
Seniors Marina Adachi (6.9 ppg) and Amil Ali-Shakir (6.2 ppg) also return for NDC with the third and fourth most points scored. Last season, Adachi paced the team with 40 made three-pointers, as Ali-Shakir contributed the second most steals (35) and third most assists (29).
 
The likes of freshman Riley Montagner, Cecelia Hamilton, Mallory Hullinger, Peyton Wells, Noel Weathers, Cencere McDaniel and sophomores Alexis Kuhlman and Karli Anker will seek to contribute for Notre Dame as newcomers this season.
 
Noting the Fighting Scots: Last season, Edinboro closed out the campaign with a loss in the PSAC Quarterfinals to California (Pa.), 72-48.
 
The Fighting Scots return both of their double-digit scorers from a year ago in Rana Elhusseini and Hayley Sims who each averaged 12.5 ppg. Sims led the team in field goals made (120), field goals attempted (311), three-pointers made (39) and three-pointers attempted (125). Elhusseini registered the top three-point percentage (40.4%), free throw percentage (87.2%) and assists (108) last year.
 
Bella Burrelli is also back for Edinboro after leading the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg) last season and finishing third in scoring (9.1 ppg). In fact, EU returns their top five scorers from a year ago.
 
Noting the Golden Knights: Last season, Gannon was crowned the PSAC Champion following a three-game run through the PSAC Tournament. GU took down Pitt-Johnstown, Kutztown and California (Pa.) to earn the championship. The Golden Knights season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament Regional Quarterfinal with a double overtime loss to Shepherd (93-89).
 
Gannon is a highly experienced team with 11 of their 13 players being upperclassman, including six players exercising their fifth year of eligibility.
 
The Golden Knights return both double digit scorers last year in Samantha Pirosko (16.2 ppg) and Emma Wright (11.2 ppg). Pirosko also led the team in rebounding last season (6.4 rpg), while pacing the squad in field goals made (173), field goals attempted (324), free throws made (93), free throws attempted (106).Wright is team's top three-point threat with 48 made threes and 133 attempted.
 
Emily Poling is another returning fifth year for GU as the Golden Knights point guard. Poling set team-highs in assists (105) and free throw percentage (94.1%).