LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University women's basketball team is putting the final preparations together ahead of tomorrow's non-conference clash with Frostburg State. The contest will officially open the regular season for LHU. The game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off under the roof of Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
When the Bald Eagles finally return to the court for regular season action tomorrow, it will mark 624 days since their last official competition.
 
Prior to the official start of the regular season, The Haven travelled to Division I opponent Miami (Ohio) for an exhibition match on November 6. Overall the match was an exciting preview of what's to come for Lock Haven as the Bald Eagles made the most of the opportunity as 13 players saw minutes for LHU and seven different players scored.
 
Playing in the Division I atmosphere, Ahnera Parker scored 16 points and added nine rebounds to lead the way for Lock Haven. Brooke Lawyer scored 12 points, while Taylor Leidy chipped in with five points and four rebounds in the exhibition.
 
Back in 2019-20, LHU finished with a 15-13 overall record and a second straight trip to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs. LHU's 15 wins matched their win total from 2018-19, and was the most in a single-season since the Haven won 17 in 2005-06.
 
As a team, Lock Haven allowed an average of just 63.1 points per game in 2019-20, which was the sixth-best defensive mark in the PSAC. Lock Haven made it rain from outside, draining 154 three-pointers in the 2019-20 season, the second most in LHU women's basketball history. The Bald Eagles were also a force on the glass, hauling in a total of 1,159 offensive rebounds for the second-best mark in the PSAC.
 
LHU returns a number of key players from the 2019-20 season, including six players who featured in at least 25 games for the Bald Eagles. Senior-forward Ahnera Parker brings double-figures back for LHU at 10.5 points per game, while boasting an impressive 46.7 percent from the field.
 
The Haven also return leading rebounder Jaynelle Robinson, who hauled in a PSAC second-best 258 total rebounds. Junior Taylor Leidy brings back her stat sheet stuffing ability, the guard notched 7.8 points per game while also grabbing 3.2 rebounds per game and handing out 2.8 assists per game.
 
The GoLHU.com staff caught up with head coach Jennifer Smith ahead of tomorrow's game, here's what she had to say:



PSAC Preseason Coaches' Poll:
 
Back on October 28, the PSAC announced the 2021-22 preseason coaches' poll. After a nearly two-year long hiatus from competition, Lock Haven returns to the PSAC season ranked fifth in the Eastern Division and LHU is coming off two straight appearances in the PSAC postseason.
 
Shippensburg was tabbed as the favorites in the Eastern Division, gathering five of the nine first-place votes, while Shepherd finished second with the remaining four first-place votes. Kutztown and East Stroudsburg were picked third and fourth, respectively, just ahead of the Bald Eagles. Rounding out the division was Bloomsburg, West Chester, Millersville and Mansfield.
 
Gannon, the defending 2019-20 PSAC champions, was picked as the favorite in the Western Division with four of the nine first-place votes. Indiana (Pa.) was placed second in the poll, also receiving four first-place votes, while Cal U rounded out the top-three. Mercyhurst was picked to finish fourth and collected the final first-place vote.
 
Looking Ahead:
 
After tomorrow's game, the Bald Eagles will head to Seton Hill and play Salem and Tiffin in back to back days on Saturday (Nov. 20) and Sunday (Nov. 21).
 
The Bald Eagles begin the PSAC schedule on Friday, December 3 when they host Edinboro to begin the conference season. The following day, Lock Haven will host Mercyhurst.