The Week Ahead: January 2-8

APPLETON, Wis. — It’s a full week of games for nearly all the winter season teams as basketball tips off 2017 with games on Monday afternoon. Lawrence gets back into Midwest Conference play with games against Knox and Monmouth this week. Lawrence hockey returns to Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play with a series against Concordia (Wis.), and the Lawrence swimmers travel to UW-Oshkosh on Saturday.

LU Sports-VikingBasketball-PMS294WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2-7, 0-4 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Knox (5-4, 2-2 MWC)

When and Where: Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., Alexander Gymnasium.

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Knox

The Series: In a series that started in the 1989-90 season, it is all tied at 19-19. Knox has won the last five meetings, and Lawrence’s last victory was a 93-92 win at Knox during the 2013-14 season.

Opponent: Lawrence at Monmouth (1-8, 1-3 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m., Glennie Gymnasium, Monmouth, Ill.

Webcast: Lawrence at Monmouth

The Series: Monmouth holds a 20-11 lead in a series that started in the 1988-89 season. The Scots have won the last 16 meetings, and Lawrence’s last wins came courtesy of a season sweep during the 2006-07 campaign.

Fast Fact: Lawrence sophomore forward Leah Reeves had a trio of big games during the Vikings’ recent nonconference schedule. Reeves averaged 16.7 points while shooting 55 percent from the floor to go with 5.7 rebounds in her last three games. Reeves, who scored a career-high 24 points vs. Widener, has taken over the team lead in scoring at 10.0 points per game.

LU Sports-VikingBasketball-PMS294MEN’S BASKETBALL (2-6, 2-2 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Knox (1-8, 1-3 MWC)

When and Where: Monday, Jan. 2, 3 p.m., Alexander Gymnasium.

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Knox

The Series: In a series that goes back to 1925, Knox holds a slim 61-59 advantage, but the rivalry has been dominated by Lawrence over the past 15 years. The Vikings have won 10 straight over Knox and 26 of the last 29 meetings dating back to the 2000-01 season.

Opponent: Lawrence at Monmouth (2-7, 2-2 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 7, 3 p.m., Glennie Gymnasium, Monmouth, Ill.

Webcast: Lawrence at Monmouth

The Series: Monmouth has a 70-40 lead in a series that started in 1926, but Lawrence has had the better of the rivalry over the last decade-plus. Lawrence is 19-5, including a 12-game win streak mixed in there, against the Scots since the start of the 2002-03 season.

Fast Fact: Junior forward Ben Peterson averaged nearly a double-double in the Vikings’ two games at the JustAGame Field House against a pair of WIAC foes, including unbeaten UW-Whitewater. Peterson averaged 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in those two games and is now averaging 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Senior forward Mitch Willer shot 65 percent from the floor in the last two games, and his shooting percentage actually went down. He’s hitting at a 67.1 percent clip from the floor while averaging a team-high 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

HOCKEY (4-6-1, 3-2-1 NCHA)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Concordia (Wis.) (7-4-1, 4-3-1 NCHA)

When and Where: Friday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m., Ozaukee Ice Center, Mequon, Wis.; Saturday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m., Appleton Family Ice Center.

Friday Webcast: Lawrence at CUW; Saturday Webcast: Lawrence vs. CUW

The Series: Lawrence holds a 13-5-2 lead in a series that started in the 2007-08 season. The Vikings are 3-0-1 in their last four meetings with the Falcons.

Fast Fact: Both of these teams are off to strong starts early in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association season. Lawrence is tied for second place in the North Division, and Concordia holds down second place in the South Division.

LU Sports-VikingSwimDive-PMS294SWIMMING

Opponent: Lawrence at UW-Oshkosh

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m., Albee Hall, Oshkosh, Wis.

Fast Fact: Lawrence swept the Midwest Conference Swimmer of the Week honors after the Vikings’ meet in Florida before Christmas. Danielle Millin was the women’s winner and Christian Bell took the men’s honor as the Vikings split a dual meet with Urbana University.