This Week: The Notre Dame College women's basketball team hosts Ursuline College for the Falcons home opener on Wednesday Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. NDC begins conference play on Saturday Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. as Wheeling enters Murphy Gymnasium.
 
Records: NDC begins the week at 1-1, as Ursuline and Wheeling are both 2-0.
 
Coaches Corner: Lauren Macer is back at the helm of the Notre Dame College women's basketball team in her second stint and fifth season as head coach. Macer maintains a 79-33 career record. Ursuline is led by Shannon Sword in her 12^th season with the Arrows, totaling a 142-162 career-mark. Anna Kowalska is in her second season with Wheeling, holding a 16-15 career mark.
 
Rankings: None of these teams are ranked according to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame is 5-2 all-time when playing against Ursuline, dating back to their first meeting in 2014-15, and including the Falcons 52-49 win over the Arrows last season. NDC is 15-7 all-time when facing Wheeling, dating back to their first meeting in 2013-14 and including the season split last year. Each team defended the home floor as the Falcons won 55-51 on Nov. 19, while the Cardinals won 86-53 on Jan. 18.
 
Noting the Falcons: Last week, Notre Dame began the 2023-24 campaign at the Conference Challenge in Erie, Pa. The Falcons scored their most points in the last three seasons, as NDC defeated Clarion 93-83 on Friday in the season opener. Four Falcons registered double figures on the evening, led by Lilee Carlson's 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists. On Saturday, Notre Dame fell to Gannon 108-56, as Kennadi Harris paced the squad with 12 points.
 
Harris leads a trio of Falcons who average double digits on the year at 13.0 points per game, while also being the team's top facilitator with 3.5 assists per game. Carlson (12.0 ppg) and Rachel Richardson (11.5 ppg) also boast north of 10 ppg, as Noel Weathers (9.5 ppg), Mallory Hulliner (8.5) and Cencere McDaniel (7.0 ppg) offer additional support.
 
Carlson and Harris tout efficient marks this season, ranking first and second on the team in field goal percentage and three-point percentage. Carlson leads the team shooting 81.8-percent from the floor and 75-percent from deep. Harris owns a 47.6-percent mark from the field and 55.6-percent from three.
 
On the glass, Weathers corrals a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game, alongside Carlson with 4.0 rpg.
 
As a team, Notre Dame is averaging 74.5 points per game on 40.0-percent shooting from the field, 34.1-percent shooting from three and 60.0-percent shooting from the free throw line. The Falcons add 36.5 rebounds per game, 11.5 assists per game, 8.0 steals per game and 2.5 blocks per game.
 
Noting the Arrows: Last week, Ursuline began their season with a pair of victories, starting with a 66-57 win over Truman State University. The Arrows rounded out their weekend on Saturday with a 77-60 win at Quincy. Michaela Cloonan carried the team with 23 and 21 points, respectively in the contests.
 
Michaela Cloonan is the heart and soul to the Arrows offense, averaging 22.0 ppg. She is joined by Alexis Frazee (14.0 ppg), sister Madison Cloonan (10.0 ppg) and Riley Stopp (10.0 ppg) as other players to average double figures.
 
The Cloonan sisters offer support from an array of avenues, as Madison leads the team with 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Michaela tallies 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, both second on the team. Both players average a team-high 3.5 steals per game.
 
As a whole, Ursuline scores 71.5 points per game on 42.9-percent shooting from the floor, 34.1-percent shooting from three and 74.1-percent shooting from the free throw line. The Arrows add 35.0 rebounds per game, 13.0 assists per game, 15.0 steals per game and 2.0 blocks per game.
 
Noting the Cardinals: Last week, Wheeling started the season 2-0, picking up a 74-61 win against Edinboro on Friday. Shamia Strayhorn led all players with 20 points. On Saturday, Wheeling took down Mercyhurst 64-57, as Jacqui Hinesmon paced a balanced attack with 13 points.
 
Wheeling carries their balanced offense into the week, showing four players who average between 10.5 and 12.5 ppg. Briarley Rogers is atop the team with 12.5 ppg, alongside Strayhorn (11.0 ppg), Rachel Wilson (11.0 ppg) and Hinesmon (10.5 ppg).
 
Dalton Kenzie is an all-around threat offering 7.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 5.0 apg. Kenzie is the team's leading facilitator.
 
Wilson (8.0 rpg), Hinesmon (7.5 rpg) and Rogers (6.5 rpg) crash the glass for Wheeling as the leading rebounders.
 
As a unit, Wheeling averages 69.0 points per game on 41.3-percent shooting from the floor, 24.2-percent shooting from three and 80.0-percent shooting from the free throw line. WU adds 42.0 rebounds per game, 12.0 assists per game, 7.0 steals per game and 1.0 blocks per game.