Mercer Closes Out Non-Conference Slate at Florida A&M
1/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team hits the road for its final non-conference game of the season, facing Florida A&M on Monday, Jan. 4 in Tallahassee, Fla.
THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Monday, Jan. 4 | 7:00 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (9-5) vs. Florida A&M (7-7)
Location: Tallahassee, Fla. | Lawson Center
Game Notes: Mercer | Florida A&M
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB
LAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY
Kahlia Lawrence leads Mercer with 15.7 points per game, which also ranks the sophomore third in the SoCon. Lawrence has tallied double-digits in 11 of Mercer's games, including four 20+ point performances.
Linnea Rosendal is second for the Bears with 10.6 ppg, having reached double figures in nine games this season. Sydni Means has tallied four double-digit games and is averaging 7.1 points a game
ETT, TVÅ, TRE (ONE, TWO, THREE)
Linnea Rosendal brought her three-point shooting to Mercer all the way from Sweden and has proven to be a threat from outside the line this season. With 31 of her 57 field goals coming from behind the three-point line, Rosendal leads the Bears outside the arc. The freshman is averaging 2.21 three-pointers a game, ranking her second in the SoCon
Against College of Charleston, Rosendal sank seven three-pointers, tying a record for most made three pointers in Hawkins Arena by a Mercer player.
BEARS ON THE BOARDS
Lawrence, Amanda Thompson and Alex Williams are all averaging 5.55 rebounds per game, leading Mercer on the glass. Williams pulled down 14 rebounds against North Florida, setting a new career high for the sophomore, as well as individual high for a Mercer player this season.
SHARING IS CARING
Mercer continues to share the ball, ranking first in the SoCon in both assist/turnover ratio (1.26) and assists per game (16.1), while respectively ranking 19th and 46th nationally. With a league-leading total of 226 assists, the Bears have dished out assists on 65.5 percent of their field goals so far this season.
Means leads Mercer and ranks second in the SoCon with 77 assists, also ranking second in the league with 5.5 assists per game. Means is also ranked 36th nationally in apg, as well as leading the SoCon and ranking 22nd nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.57).
HOLDING ON TO THE BALL
Mercer is also ranked among the nation's top teams in turnovers per game, losing the ball just 12.8 times per contest and ranking first in the SoCon and 17th nationally. The Bears also lead the SoCon and rank 28th nationally in turnover margin (+4.57). Mercer has lost the turnover battle just three times this season, and is 8-3 when recording fewer turnovers than the opponent.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Bears have played eight games at Hawkins Arena this season, including the last four, and have had quite an advantage at home. Mercer has scored 65.9 points per game at home and has outscored opponents by a margin of 15.3 ppg.
Kahlia Lawrence (15.8) and Linnea Rosendal (13.1) are two of nine Mercer players who are averaging more points at home than overall.
Mercer has also registered a +7.1 rebounding margin at Hawkins Arena, as well as a +5.4 turnover margin.
WELCOMING WILLIAMS BACK
After missing the first eight games of the season due to injury, Alex Williams has made a splash in Mercer's last six games. Williams has averaged 2.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in just 16.3 minutes played in her first games back for the Bears this season. The sophomore has improved in each of her games back on the court and even set a new career high in rebounds (14) against North Florida on January 2.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
The Bears have a scoring offense of 62.4 and have outscored their opponents by a margin of 7.1 ppg, leading the Southern Conference in the latter, while ranking second in the former. Additionally, Mercer has connected on 39.1 percent of its shots from the field, while holding opponents to 37.0 percent.
IT'S FOR FREE!
As a team, the Bears have connected on 67.9 percent of their attempts from the free throw line, four players have hit at least 70.0 percent of their attempts, with a minimum of 10 free throw attempts.
Amanda Thompson leads the way with an 80.0 percentage off 12-of-15 shooting from the charity stripe. Kahlia Lawrence has taken the trip to the free throw line the most, connecting on 29 of her 38 attempts for an 76.3 free throw percentage.
Sydni Means has tallied a 72.2 percentage off 26-of-36 shooting at the free throw line. KeKe Calloway wraps up the quartet, having hit 70.0 of her shots (7-of-10).SERIES HISTORY
Florida A&M leads the series with a 16-11 advantage, including a 9-3 mark in Tallahassee. The series is tied over the past 10 meetings, 5-5, including Mercer's 61-47 win last season in Macon. Prior to the 2014-15 season, the teams had not met since the 2007-08 season.
SCOUTING FLORIDA A&M
Florida A&M has tallied an even 7-7 record so far this season, including a 2-2 mark in Tallahassee. The Rattlers picked up a marquee win over Clemson on Dec. 29, defeating the Tigers, 77-68. Florida A&M has won its last three games, with its last loss coming to Southern Cal on Dec. 18.
Olivia Antilla leads the Rattlers with 16.3 points per game, ranking fourth in the MEAC. Khadejra Young is second for FAMU with 12.7 ppg, while tied for the team lead with 6.6 rebounds per game.
Young also leads the MEAC and ranks ninth in the country with a total of 42 steals, while also ranking first in the conference and 21st nationally with 3.00 steals per game.
The Rattlers have a 14-player roster, but only eight players have played in each of FAMU's last three games.
As a team, Florida A&M is averaging 64.0 points per game and has been outscored by an average of 7.1 ppg. The Rattlers also have a -5.6 rebounding margin and a -2.6 turnover margin this season. Florida A&M has connected on 37.5 percent of its shots, which includes a 29.9 three-point percentage.
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.
