Avery Wagner
Photo by: Josh Gales
Mastodon Women's Basketball Hosts Detroit Mercy on Sunday
1/30/2026 2:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In the final event of Purdue Fort Wayne's homecoming week, the Mastodon women's basketball team will play host to the Detroit Mercy Titans at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 1) in the Gates Sports Center.
Game Day Information
Who: Detroit Mercy Titans
When: Sunday, February 1 | 2 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: WELT 95.7
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Detroit Mercy | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Detroit Mercy is 4-17 and 2-10 in Horizon League play, coming off a 69-53 loss to Youngstown State. The Titans are on a 10-game losing streak, which dates back to a 59-46 win over Delaware State. Makayla Jackson and Jasmine Edwards lead the team with double-digit scoring. In league play, the Titans are shooting just 25.3 percent from beyond the arc, a league-low.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the series 11-10 thanks to winning nine of the last 10. Last season, the Mastodons beat the Titans 72-65 in Detroit and 91-62 in Fort Wayne. The Mastodons have not lost to the Titans in Fort Wayne since 2014.
A Win Would...
• Give the Mastodons their fifth win in a row over Detroit Mercy
• Give the Mastodons their seventh win in a row over the Titans in Fort Wayne
• Push the Mastodons' advantage in the series to 12-10
• Be the Mastodons' 11th win at home with a 11-1 mark
• Extend the Mastodons' win streak to four games
• Give Maria Marchesano her 56th Horizon League win and 88th win as Mastodon head coach
• Move Maria Marchesano into the top-20 in Horizon League history with 56 league wins
Krasovec Krushing It
Lili Krasovec scored a career-high 24 points in the Mastodons' 60-46 win over Robert Morris (Jan. 27). She was the second player in the league this season to scored 24 or more points in a league game without attempting a 3-pointer.
50-50 Chance
The Mastodons have shot over 50 percent in four games this season. This ties for the fifth-most games in a season shooting 50 percent or more in the program's Division I history. The 'Dons shot over 50 percent in 11 games in 2010-11, 10 games in 2013-14, eight games in 2024-25 and five games in 2023-24.
It's Just Destiny
After going 6-for-25 (24 percent) from 3-point range in the first 13 games of the season, Destiny Macharia has shot 10-for-25 (40.0 percent) from deep since.
3-Point Threat
Rylee Bess has the second-best season-long 3-point percentage by a freshman in program history. Her mark of 40.7 percent (46-of-113) is only bested by Jordan Zuppe (2007-08), who shot 43.3 percent (74-of-171) in her freshman season.
At Her Bess(t)
Rylee Bess' 40.7 3-point percentage is the fifth-best by any freshman in the country this season and 41st nationally among all players.
Good, Better, Bess
Over the six-game stretch from January 5-24, Rylee Bess averaged 15.8 points per game, shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from the 3-point line. She scored in double-figures in each of those six games.
Triple Trouble
Purdue Fort Wayne has had the top 3-point shooter in the Horizon League in each of the last three seasons.
2025-26 - Rylee Bess - 40.7 percent
2024-25 - Lauren Ross - 47.6 percent
2023-24 - Shayla Sellers - 40.2 percent
Marchesano Mania
Maria Marchesano owns 55 Horizon League wins as the Mastodon head coach. She was the fastest to reach 50 league wins in program history. She needs one more to break into the top-20 in HL wins in league history.
More Maria Madness
Maria Marchesano's 59.8 winning percentage (55-37) in Horizon League contests ranks 12th in league history with a minimum of three seasons. Cleveland State's Chris Kielsmeier is the only active coach with a better mark.
Chasing 2,000
Jordan Reid needs 124 points to reach 2,000 in her career between Purdue Fort Wayne and Indiana Wesleyan.
League Leader
Alana Nelson leads the Horizon League this season in points (361), points per game (16.4) and field goals (132). She also leads the league in scoring in league games at 17.1 points per game. Her 3-point percentage of 39.5 is second in the league to only teammate Rylee Bess.
Career Points Tracker
Let's take a look at the career scoring numbers for the three former NAIA All-Americans on the roster regardless of level.
Alana Nelson - 2,630 (482 at Northwood, 1,787 at Spring Arbor, 361 at PFW)
Jordan Reid - 1,876 (1,395 at Indiana Wesleyan, 481 at PFW)
Lauren Lee - 1,732 (1,630 at Campbellsville, 102 at PFW)
Vetting Krasovec
Lili Krasovec has 32 free throw makes on her last 38 trips to the charity stripe (84.2 percent) dating back to December 7.
Lili Love
Lili Krasovec has scored in double-digits 13 times this season after doing so just twice at Boston College. She scored a career-high 24 points against Robert Morris (Jan. 27) after going 11-of-14 from the floor.
Lock In Lili
Lili Krasovec has scored 15+ points seven times this season. In those games, she was a combined 45-for-68 (66.2 percent) from the floor and 25-of-28 (89.3 percent) from the free throw line.
Wicked Wagner
On limited attempts off the bench, the 6-foot-4 Avery Wagner is shooting 36.8 percent from 3-point range (7-of-19).
3-Ball Fun
The Mastodons are 4-1 this season when they hit 10 or more 3-pointers this season. Under Maria Marchesano's leadership, the 'Dons have had 54 such games with a 42-12 record in those games.
Look at Lee!
Through 12 Horizon League games, Lauren Lee is second in the HL with 4.0 assists per game. She also has a 2.2 assist to turnover ratio, a league-best.
I'll Take That
Jordan Reid is averaging 2.2 steals per game, which ranks second in the Horizon League and just outside the top-100 nationally. If that average holds for a season-long mark, it would be fourth-best in the program's Division I era.
Inside The Arc? Guaranteed Bucket
Lili Krasovec is shooting 63.2 percent from the floor this season (96-for-152), which ranks first in Mastodon history for a single season, topping Jazzlyn Linbo's 58.3 from last year.
Home Sweet Gates
Purdue Fort Wayne is 52-22 (70.3 percent) at home under head coach Maria Marchesano and 37-7 (84.1 percent) over the last three seasons.
The Magic Numbers
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 58-9 when they score 70 points or more, 28-3 when they hit 80, and 12-0 when they reach 90.
Bench Mob
Purdue Fort Wayne's bench is out-scoring its opponents' benches 451-337 this season. The Mastodon bench led in bench points in 16 of its 21 games.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons beat Robert Morris 60-46 behind a career-high 24 points from Lili Krasovec. She was 11-for-14 from the floor. Her 11 field goals matched the most in a Horizon League game this season.
Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will hit the road for a game at Wright State on Thursday (Feb. 5).
Game Day Information
Who: Detroit Mercy Titans
When: Sunday, February 1 | 2 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: WELT 95.7
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Detroit Mercy | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Detroit Mercy is 4-17 and 2-10 in Horizon League play, coming off a 69-53 loss to Youngstown State. The Titans are on a 10-game losing streak, which dates back to a 59-46 win over Delaware State. Makayla Jackson and Jasmine Edwards lead the team with double-digit scoring. In league play, the Titans are shooting just 25.3 percent from beyond the arc, a league-low.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the series 11-10 thanks to winning nine of the last 10. Last season, the Mastodons beat the Titans 72-65 in Detroit and 91-62 in Fort Wayne. The Mastodons have not lost to the Titans in Fort Wayne since 2014.
A Win Would...
• Give the Mastodons their fifth win in a row over Detroit Mercy
• Give the Mastodons their seventh win in a row over the Titans in Fort Wayne
• Push the Mastodons' advantage in the series to 12-10
• Be the Mastodons' 11th win at home with a 11-1 mark
• Extend the Mastodons' win streak to four games
• Give Maria Marchesano her 56th Horizon League win and 88th win as Mastodon head coach
• Move Maria Marchesano into the top-20 in Horizon League history with 56 league wins
Krasovec Krushing It
Lili Krasovec scored a career-high 24 points in the Mastodons' 60-46 win over Robert Morris (Jan. 27). She was the second player in the league this season to scored 24 or more points in a league game without attempting a 3-pointer.
50-50 Chance
The Mastodons have shot over 50 percent in four games this season. This ties for the fifth-most games in a season shooting 50 percent or more in the program's Division I history. The 'Dons shot over 50 percent in 11 games in 2010-11, 10 games in 2013-14, eight games in 2024-25 and five games in 2023-24.
It's Just Destiny
After going 6-for-25 (24 percent) from 3-point range in the first 13 games of the season, Destiny Macharia has shot 10-for-25 (40.0 percent) from deep since.
3-Point Threat
Rylee Bess has the second-best season-long 3-point percentage by a freshman in program history. Her mark of 40.7 percent (46-of-113) is only bested by Jordan Zuppe (2007-08), who shot 43.3 percent (74-of-171) in her freshman season.
At Her Bess(t)
Rylee Bess' 40.7 3-point percentage is the fifth-best by any freshman in the country this season and 41st nationally among all players.
Good, Better, Bess
Over the six-game stretch from January 5-24, Rylee Bess averaged 15.8 points per game, shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from the 3-point line. She scored in double-figures in each of those six games.
Triple Trouble
Purdue Fort Wayne has had the top 3-point shooter in the Horizon League in each of the last three seasons.
2025-26 - Rylee Bess - 40.7 percent
2024-25 - Lauren Ross - 47.6 percent
2023-24 - Shayla Sellers - 40.2 percent
Marchesano Mania
Maria Marchesano owns 55 Horizon League wins as the Mastodon head coach. She was the fastest to reach 50 league wins in program history. She needs one more to break into the top-20 in HL wins in league history.
More Maria Madness
Maria Marchesano's 59.8 winning percentage (55-37) in Horizon League contests ranks 12th in league history with a minimum of three seasons. Cleveland State's Chris Kielsmeier is the only active coach with a better mark.
Chasing 2,000
Jordan Reid needs 124 points to reach 2,000 in her career between Purdue Fort Wayne and Indiana Wesleyan.
League Leader
Alana Nelson leads the Horizon League this season in points (361), points per game (16.4) and field goals (132). She also leads the league in scoring in league games at 17.1 points per game. Her 3-point percentage of 39.5 is second in the league to only teammate Rylee Bess.
Career Points Tracker
Let's take a look at the career scoring numbers for the three former NAIA All-Americans on the roster regardless of level.
Alana Nelson - 2,630 (482 at Northwood, 1,787 at Spring Arbor, 361 at PFW)
Jordan Reid - 1,876 (1,395 at Indiana Wesleyan, 481 at PFW)
Lauren Lee - 1,732 (1,630 at Campbellsville, 102 at PFW)
Vetting Krasovec
Lili Krasovec has 32 free throw makes on her last 38 trips to the charity stripe (84.2 percent) dating back to December 7.
Lili Love
Lili Krasovec has scored in double-digits 13 times this season after doing so just twice at Boston College. She scored a career-high 24 points against Robert Morris (Jan. 27) after going 11-of-14 from the floor.
Lock In Lili
Lili Krasovec has scored 15+ points seven times this season. In those games, she was a combined 45-for-68 (66.2 percent) from the floor and 25-of-28 (89.3 percent) from the free throw line.
Wicked Wagner
On limited attempts off the bench, the 6-foot-4 Avery Wagner is shooting 36.8 percent from 3-point range (7-of-19).
3-Ball Fun
The Mastodons are 4-1 this season when they hit 10 or more 3-pointers this season. Under Maria Marchesano's leadership, the 'Dons have had 54 such games with a 42-12 record in those games.
Look at Lee!
Through 12 Horizon League games, Lauren Lee is second in the HL with 4.0 assists per game. She also has a 2.2 assist to turnover ratio, a league-best.
I'll Take That
Jordan Reid is averaging 2.2 steals per game, which ranks second in the Horizon League and just outside the top-100 nationally. If that average holds for a season-long mark, it would be fourth-best in the program's Division I era.
Inside The Arc? Guaranteed Bucket
Lili Krasovec is shooting 63.2 percent from the floor this season (96-for-152), which ranks first in Mastodon history for a single season, topping Jazzlyn Linbo's 58.3 from last year.
Home Sweet Gates
Purdue Fort Wayne is 52-22 (70.3 percent) at home under head coach Maria Marchesano and 37-7 (84.1 percent) over the last three seasons.
The Magic Numbers
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 58-9 when they score 70 points or more, 28-3 when they hit 80, and 12-0 when they reach 90.
Bench Mob
Purdue Fort Wayne's bench is out-scoring its opponents' benches 451-337 this season. The Mastodon bench led in bench points in 16 of its 21 games.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons beat Robert Morris 60-46 behind a career-high 24 points from Lili Krasovec. She was 11-for-14 from the floor. Her 11 field goals matched the most in a Horizon League game this season.
Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will hit the road for a game at Wright State on Thursday (Feb. 5).
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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