The 2021 Misericordia University women's basketball team will open an eight-game Middle Atlantic Conference when the Cougars host Arcadia, February 19 at 7:00.  Misericordia will travel to Arcadia, Saturday, February 20 at 5:00.
 
The Cougars are coming off a 20-7 season in which they earned the number two seed in the MAC Freedom Championships.  The Cougars also made their fourth consecutive appearance in the ECAC Tournament.
 
The Cougars are led by head coach Jason Rhine, who is entering his fifth season at MU. Rhine has compiled an 80-33 record, including a conference mark of 40-16, and four trips to the MAC Freedom Championships.
 
A little over 11 months since the Cougars last left the floor against Drew University on March 6, Rhine and the Cougars are excited to have the opportunity to compete again.
 
"It means a lot to us," Rhine said. "First and foremost, when discussing it with our players, it meant something to them that they would be given the opportunity to play. My heart and my loyalty always rides with them, so it means a lot to me seeing how much that it meant to them."
 
In a normal season, the team would have played about 15 games by now and would be aiming to hit their stride as they prepare for the MAC Freedom Championships. This year, due to COVID-19, the Cougars are only a few weeks into practicing, but Rhine likes what he has seen from his team and the direction that they are trending in.
 
"I had my expectations for our team and I thought we would be a little farther off than where we actually are," Rhine said. "I am proud of how they conducted themselves over winter break. They came back in good shape and we are about two steps ahead of where I thought we would be."
 
The Cougars only loss to graduation was Jordan Barth, a forward who averaged 11.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season.
 
Senior point guard Erica Haefele returns for her third season as a captain and is coming off a season where she averaged 9.6 points per game and shot 36% from three-point range. Her leadership on and off the court will be pivotal in determining the Cougars success this season.
 
"Erica is the only three-year team captain here in the 80-plus years of the program," Rhine said. "I have always said the same thing about Erica and it is that she stands about this high (5'5), but her heart stands even higher. It is just the way she operates."
 
The way Haefele leads and the motor she plays with is an example that Rhine wants other players to follow and the sophomore class is beginning to exhibit those traits themselves while making strides to help the team this upcoming season.
 
"We have had great progression from some of our sophomores," Rhine said. "I look at Elizabeth Fasti and she has made three strides farther than we were expecting from her at this point. Alyssa Bondi was known as a shooter last year and has incorporated some defense into her game this year.  Meaghan McCaffrey is running the floor a lot harder and faster this year. There have been some shining moments out of our sophomore class and even some of our first-year players could make an impact."
 
Also returning for the Cougars this season is junior center Nora Tracey, who averaged 5.9 points per game on 42% shooting from the field, in 13.9 minutes per game, last season. Sophomore forward Gianna Delfino returns to the lineup as well after a first-year campaign where she averaged 7.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest.