Mercer Set To Host Furman on Thursday

Thursday, January 19

Macon, Ga.

7:00 PM ET

Mercer University

Furman

Photo courtesy of Judy Stapleton

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

1/18/2017 2:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats ESPN3

MACON, Ga. – The Bears are back in Macon as the Mercer women's basketball team hosts Furman on Thursday to start a three-game home stand. The Bears and the Paladins are set to tip off at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Thursday, January 19 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (14-4, 3-1 SoCon) vs. Furman (10-9, 3-0 SoCon)
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 14-4 record, the best under Coach Gardner. The Bears have recorded the program's best non-conference record (11-3) in regular season play in the NCAA era.

PUTTING THE "W" IN HAWKINS ARENA
Mercer is 7-2 at Hawkins Arena so far this season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mercer has tallied a 29-11 mark in Hawkins Arena.

DUBS ON DUBS ON DUBS
Mercer is outscoring its opponents by 8.4 ppg this season, which is buoyed by three players averaging double figures in scoring. Kahlia Lawrence (19.2 ppg), KeKe Calloway (13.9 ppg) and Sydni Means (10.2 ppg) are leading the Bears offensively this season.

LAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY
Kahlia Lawrence is leading Mercer and ranks second in the SoCon with 19.2 points per game. The junior also ranks 30th nationally in ppg. She has reached double figures in scoring 15 times this season, including each of the last nine games, and topped 20 points in eight games.

Lawrence has scored 20+ points in all four SoCon games, putting her atop the league standings with 25.8 ppg in SoCon play.

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 13.9 points per game. Calloway has reached double figures in 10 games this season and led the Bears in scoring in six games.

KEKE FOR THREE
KeKe Calloway leads Mercer and ranks fourth in the conference from outside the arc with 43 made three-pointers. Calloway also ranks 66th nationally in made three pointers. She is also first in the SoCon and 16th nationally with 150 attempted treys. Calloway is averaging 2.39 three-pointers a game, putting her third in the conference and 79th in the nation.

After making two three-pointers in Mercer's win over Paine, Calloway earned a spot on the Bears' career made three-pointers leaderboard. She currently sits in 10th place with 95 made three-pointers.

WILLIAMS BACK IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Alex Williams started the first four games of the season for the Bears before missing six games due to injury. Williams has been back on the floor for Mercer since Dec. 18 but re-entered the starting lineup on New Year's Eve.

Williams has been steady for the Bears since returning to the starting lineup. She notched a double-double featuring a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds in the win over ETSU and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds in the win over UNCG last week.

DEFENSE STANDING OUT
Mercer has focused more on defense this season and it has paid off. The Bears rank second in the SoCon and 48th nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score just 58.4 points per game. Mercer has held its opponents to less than 60 points in nine games and less than 50 points in four games this season.

BEARS ON THE BOARDS
Amanda Thompson leads Mercer on the boards with 7.2 rebounds per game this season, followed by Alex Williams with 6.3 boards a game. Thompson ranks sixth in the SoCon in rebounds per game.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS
As a team, Mercer has grabbed 178 steals and is averaging 9.9 steals per game. The Bears lead the SoCon in steals per game, while ranking second in total steals. Additionally, Mercer ranks 45th nationally in total steals and 56th in steals per game.

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 111 assists and is averaging 6.2 apg, both of which lead the conference. She is ranked 16th nationally in total assists and 21st in apg. Means also leads the conference with a 3.00 assist/ turnover ratio and ranks 11th nationally.

ALL ABOUT THE GIVE AND TAKE
In addition to leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game, Sydni Means has notched 49 steals and 2.72 steals per game and leads the conference in both categories. She ranks 26th nationally in total steals and 38th in steals per game. The junior point guard has recorded the SoCon's single-game highs for both assists (13) and steals (7). Means dished out 13 assists in the win over Paine, setting a new career high.

HOLDING ONTO THE BALL
The Bears are protecting the rock well this year and are second in the nation with 10.5 turnovers per game. Mercer is also seventh in the nation in turnover margin, as the Bears have recorded a +8.61 turnover margin thus far. Mercer is forcing 19.11 turnovers per game, ranking first in the SoCon and 63rd nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
Mercer leads the series 9-4, which includes a 3-2 mark in Macon. The Bears lead 4-1 since joining the SoCon prior to the 2014-15 season and have won the last four meetings.

SCOUTING FURMAN
After going 7-9 in the non-conference season, Furman has started the SoCon slate with a 3-0 mark, tying the Paladins for first place.

Whitney Bunn leads Furman with 15.5 ppg, followed by Cierra Carter and Le'Jzae Davidson with 12.4 and 10.3 ppg, respectively.

Carter has pulled down a team-leading 8.4 rpg, followed by Tierra Hodges with 5.8 boards a game. Bunn also leads the Paladins with 4.7 assists 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.