Mercer University
Howard
Women's Basketball Wraps Up GSU Thanksgiving Classic Play Against Howard
11/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team will wrap up play in the GSU Thanksgiving Classic on Sunday against Howard at 1:00 p.m.
THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Sunday, Nov. 29 | 1:00 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (3-2) vs. Howard (0-6)
Location: Atlanta, Ga. | GSU Sports Arena
Game Notes: Mercer | Howard
Live Stats: GeorgiaStateSports.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB
SERIES HISTORY
This will serve as the first meeting between Mercer and Howard.
SCOUTING HOWARD
The Bison are led by Victoria Gonzales, who is averaging 21.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Gonzales leads the MEAC and is ranked 31st in the nation in points per game, while currently third in the MEAC in rebounds per game.
Sydni Johnson is second for Howard with 12.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, followed by Kiana Thomas with 6.2 points a game and 4.2 boards per contest. Johnson and Essence Brown lead the Bison with 10 assists each.
As a team, Howard has connected on 31.6 percent of its shots from the field, which includes a just a 11.6 three-point field goal percentage. With a scoring offense of 52.8, the Bison have been outscored by their opponents by 25.4 ppg this season, while being outrebounded by a margin of 2.6 boards per game.
MERCER NOTES
The Bears have a scoring offense of 66.8 and have outscored their opponents by a margin of 9.8 ppg, ranking second in the Southern Conference in both categories.
Kahlia Lawrence leads Mercer with 17.2 points per game, having notched double digits in four of Mercer's five games. Lawrence has also tallied 20+ points in two of Mercer's games and ranks third in points per game. Linnea Rosendal is second for the Bears with 10.8 ppg, also having reached double figures in four games this season.
Lawrence also leads Mercer with 6.2 rebounds per game, followed by Rachel Selph with 5.2 boards a game. Sydni Means leads Mercer and ranks third in the SoCon with 27 assists and 5.4 assists per game. Lawrence is fifth in the league with 18 assists and 3.6 assists per game. As a team, Mercer leads the league in both assists per game (19.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
Coach Gardner has an 0-1 record against Howard, having faced the Bison on November 16, 2001, while at Austin Peay. This will be the first meeting between Coach Gardner and Howard's head coach, Ty Grace.
For all the latest information on Mercer women's basketball, please visit MercerBears.com or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow Mercer basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @MercerWBB or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Mercerwbb.
