Mercer Makes Quick Trip To Take on Georgia Tech

Wednesday, December 7

Atlanta, Ga.

7:00 PM ET

Mercer University

Georgia Tech

Photo courtesy of Judy Stapleton

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Mercer Makes Quick Trip To Take on Georgia Tech

12/6/2016 1:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats

MACON, Ga. – Mercer is back on the road this week for a quick trip up to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Wednesday, December 7 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (7-1, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Georgia Tech (7-1, 0-0 ACC)
Location: Atlanta, Ga. | McCamish Pavilion
Game Notes: Mercer
Live Stats: RamblinWreck.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

STELLAR START
Mercer has started the season with a 7-1 record, the best under Coach Gardner. It is also the best start since Mercer went 8-1 at the beginning of the 1980-81 season.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSE
So far this season, Mercer has proved that it will continue to put on a show on offense. The Bears are leading the SoCon in scoring offense (68.9) and scoring margin (12.1). Mercer is also third in assists per game (14.0).

IT'S FOR FREE!
As a team, the Bears have connected on 74.4 percent of their attempts from the free throw line this season. Mercer ranks third in the league and 53rd nationally in free throw percentage.

Kahlia Lawrence is 24-for-29 from the free throw line, giving her an 82.8 percentage and ranking her first in the SoCon. KeKe Calloway has the highest percentage on the team, having gone 16-of-18 from the charity stripe so far this season for 88.9 percent.

In order to be ranked in free throw percentage, players must average 2.5 made free throws per game. Calloway is averaging 2.0 made free throws per game, putting her just out of reach to be ranked.

LAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY ONCE AGAIN
Kahlia Lawrence was uncharacteristically quiet in Mercer's first two games, scoring just 11 and 13 points for the Bears. Since the first week, she has bounced back offensively and currently leads Mercer with 17.3 points per game. Lawrence ranks second in the Southern Conference and 85th nationally in ppg.

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 currently second for the Bears with 15.1 points per game.

Calloway has reached double figures in six games this season and led the Bears in scoring in three games. She also ranks fourth in the league and 186th nationally in ppg. Additionally, she ranks 151st nationally and seventh in the SoCon with 121 total points.

TWO FOR THREE
KeKe Calloway and Linnea Rosendal lead Mercer from outside the arc as each has hit 17 three-pointers this season. The duo is tied for eighth in the SoCon in three-pointers made. Calloway is also third in the league in three-point attempts (58) and Rosendal is seventh with 51.

BEARS ON THE BOARDS
Amanda Thompson leads Mercer on the boards with 8.8 rebounds per game this season, followed by Kayla Potts and Kahlia Lawrence with 5.8 and 5.3 rpg, respectively.

Thompson ranks fourth in the SoCon in both total assists (70) and assists per game. She grabbed a career-high 16 boards against Kennesaw State as she tallied her first career double-double.

Kayla Potts has stepped up for the Bears in the last three games, averaging 8.3 rpg in Mercer's last three contests.

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 50 assists and is averaging 6.3 apg, leading the league in assists per game and ranking second in total assists. She is ranked 24th nationally in total assists and 23rd in apg. Means also leads the conference with a 4.17 assist/ turnover ratio and ranks eighth nationally.

SHE GIVETH AND SHE TAKETH AWAY
In addition to leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game, Sydni Means has notched a league-leading 25 steals and 3.13 steals per game. Means ranks 23rd nationally in total steals and 25th in steals per game.

Mercer is also leading the conference in steals per game (11.0) and is second in steals (88), while ranking 43rd and 33rd nationally.

HOLDING ONTO THE BALL
The Bears are protecting the rock well this year and are second in the nation with just 10.4 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 +11.00 turnover margin thus far. Mercer is forcing 21.38 turnovers per game, ranking first in the SoCon and 32nd nationally.

THANKFUL FOR A PAIR OF WINS
Over the Thanksgiving holidays, Mercer hit the road to take on Illinois and Houston. The Bears were able to put together a pair of wins, which includes the first win over a Big Ten team since 1976.

SERIES HISTORY
Georgia Tech leads the series 15-6, which includes an 11-3 mark in Atlanta. The Bears and the Yellow Jackets met last year in the WNIT. Georgia Tech won, 73-56, ending Mercer's season.

SCOUTING GEORGIA TECH
Georgia Tech has three players averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Francesca Pan with 11.8 ppg. Imani Tilford and Zaire O'Neil are right behind Pan with 11.0 and 10.4 ppg, respectively.

Chanin Scott is the Yellow Jackets' leading rebounder with 4.6 rpg, followed very closely by Elo Edeferioka (4.5), Katarina Vuckovic (4.4) and O'Neil (4.1).

As a team, Georgia Tech is outscoring its opponents 68.5-58.9 and outrebounded them 40.0-35.9. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 14.6 turnovers and forcing 19.5 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.