Mercer Closes Out Non-Conference Slate Against Paine

Saturday, December 31

Macon, Ga.

2:00 PM ET

Mercer University

Paine

Mercer Closes Out Non-Conference Slate Against Paine

12/30/2016 2:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats ESPN3

MACON, Ga. – The Bears will wrap up non-conference play on Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Mercer women's basketball team hosts Paine College at Hawkins Arena.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Saturday, December 31 | 2 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (10-3, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Paine (5-5, 2-2 SIAC)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Game Notes: Mercer
Live Stats: MercerBears.com | Video: ESPN3
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

STELLAR START
Mercer has started the season with a 10-3 record, the best under Coach Gardner. It is also the best start through 13 games since Mercer also went 11-2 at the beginning of the 1979-80 season.

PUTTING THE "W" IN HAWKINS ARENA
Mercer is 5-1 at Hawkins Arena so far this season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mercer has tallied a 27-10 mark in Hawkins Arena.

LAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY
Kahlia Lawrence is leading Mercer and ranks third in the SoCon with 17.2 points per game. The junior also ranks 81st nationally in ppg. Lawrence notched her seventh career double-double on Thursday with 27 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Davidson. She has reached double figures in scoring nine times this season and topped 20 points in four games.

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 15.2 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 fifth in the league in ppg and is 175th nationally and sixth in the SoCon with 197 total points.

KEKE FOR THREE
KeKe Calloway leads Mercer and ranks third in the conference from outside the arc with 34 made three-pointers. Calloway also ranks 44th nationally in made three pointers. She is also first in the SoCon and 10th nationally with 120 attempted treys. Calloway is averaging 2.62 three-pointers a game, putting her third in the conference and 64th 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 5.3 and Kahlia Lawrence with 5.2.

Thompson ranks fourth in the SoCon in both rebounds per game and total rebounds (106). She has grabbed at least eight rebounds in seven of her last 10 contests, including a career-high 16 against Kennesaw State. Additionally, she leads the SoCon and ranks 14th nationally with 4 offensive rebounds per game.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS
As a team, Mercer has grabbed 142 steals and is averaging 10.9 steals per game. The Bears lead the SoCon in both categories and rank 24th and 36th nationally, respectively.

Mercer has also recorded four of the SoCon's top six 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 74 assists and is averaging 5.7 apg, both of which lead the conference. She is ranked 25th nationally in total assists and 30th in apg. Means also leads the conference with a 2.47 assist/ turnover ratio and ranks 45th nationally.

ALL ABOUT THE GIVE AND TAKE
In addition to leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game, Sydni Means has notched 38 steals and 2.92 steals per game and leads the conference in both categories. She ranks 19th nationally in total steals and 30th in steals per game.

HOLDING ONTO THE BALL
The Bears are protecting the rock well this year and are third 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 second in the nation in turnover margin, as the Bears have recorded a +9.77 turnover margin thus far. Mercer is forcing 20.92 turnovers per game, ranking first in the SoCon and 30th nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between Mercer and Paine.

SCOUTING PAINE
Paine is 5-5 on the season, which includes a 2-2 mark on the road.

Janisha Wilkerson leads the Lions with 15.8 points per game and has also pulled down a team-leading 11.6 rebounds per game. Tierra Boykin is second on the team with 12.4 ppg. Aalyiha Wright is close to averaging a double-double with 11.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

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.