Bears On The Road, Facing Davidson Thursday

Thursday, December 29

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 PM ET

Mercer University

Davidson

Photo courtesy of Judy Stapleton

12/28/2016 4:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch

MACON, Ga. – Mercer is returning to the hardwood after the holiday break and will take on Davidson on Thursday in Davidson , N.C. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Thursday, December 29 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (9-3, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Davidson (2-9, 0-0 A-10)
Location: Davidson, N.C. | Baker Sports Complex
Game Notes: Mercer
Live Stats: DavidsonWildcats.com | Video: Atlantic10.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

STELLAR START
Mercer has started the season with a 9-3 record, the best under Coach Gardner. It is also the best start through 12 games since Mercer also went 9-3 at the beginning of the 1980-81 season.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP FOR CALLOWAY
KeKe Calloway finished her freshman season as one of Mercer's leading scorers in the SoCon Tournament. The guard has started her sophomore season in much of the same fashion as she is second for Mercer with 15.7 points per game.

Calloway has reached double figures in nine games this season and led the Bears in scoring in five games, including a 21-point performance vs. West Georgia earlier this month. She also ranks fourth in the league in ppg and is 106th nationally and fourth in the SoCon with 188 total points.

KEKE FOR THREE
KeKe Calloway leads Mercer and ranks second in the conference from outside the arc with 32 made three-pointers. Calloway also ranks 39th nationally in made three pointers. She is also second in the SoCon and 11th nationally with 106 attempted treys. Calloway is averaging 2.67 three-pointers a game, putting her second in the conference and 60th in the nation.

BEARS ON THE BOARDS
Amanda Thompson leads Mercer on the boards with 8.2 rebounds per game this season, followed by Kayla Potts with 5.4.

Thompson ranks fourth in the SoCon in both rebounds per game and total rebounds (98). She has grabbed at least nine rebounds in six of her last nine contests, including a career-high 16 against Kennesaw State. Additionally, she leads the SoCon and ranks 16th nationally with 4 offensive rebounds per game.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS
As a team, Mercer has grabbed 127 steals and is averaging 10.6 steals per game. The Bears lead the SoCon in both categories and rank 32nd and 48th nationally.

Mercer has also recorded three of the SoCon's top five single-game steals performances, which includes the Bears' season-high 19 against Georgia Southern.

SHARING IS CARING
After finishing last season leading the SoCon in total assists and assists per game, Sydni Means is still on top. Means has dished out 67 assists and is averaging 5.6 apg, both of which lead the conference. She is ranked 29th nationally in total assists and 33rd in apg. Means also leads the conference with a 2.58 assist/ turnover ratio and ranks 33rd nationally.

ALL ABOUT THE GIVE AND TAKE
In addition to leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game, Sydni Means has notched 35 steals and 2.92 steals per game. Means ranks second in the conference and 24th nationally in total steals and first in the league and 30th nationally in steals per game.

HOLDING ONTO THE BALL
The Bears are protecting the rock well this year and are fourth in the nation with 11.2 turnovers per game. Against Florida Atlantic, Mercer committed just three turnovers, which is a nation-wide single-game low this season.

Mercer is also fifth in the nation in turnover margin, as the Bears have recorded a +9.50 turnover margin thus far. Mercer is forcing 20.67 turnovers per game, ranking first in the SoCon and 35th nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
Davidson leads the series, 2-1, which includes a 1-0 mark in Davidson. The Bears did win the last game, a 46-43 victory in Macon in 2012.

SCOUTING DAVIDSON
Davidson is 2-9 on the season, picking up a pair of wins shortly before the holiday break. The Wildcats downed High Point, 82-72, and Furman, 71-61, in two of their last games before an eight-day break.

Mackenzie Latt is leading Davidson with 15.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. Kianna Speight is second with 12.2 ppg and Justine Lyon is close to averaging double figures in scoring with 9.9 ppg. Lyon is also second for the Wildcats with 4.8 rpg.

Davidson has been outscored by an average of 12.9 points per game this season as only two losses have been by less than 10 points. The Wildcats are also being outrebounded, 40.8-39.8, and have a turnover margin of -1.5.

How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.