Bears Open SoCon Slate Against ETSU

Thursday, January 5

Macon, Ga.

5:00 PM ET

Mercer University

ETSU

Photo courtesy of Judy Stapleton

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

1/4/2017 2:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats ESPN3 Fox Sports 1670

MACON, Ga. – Mercer begins Southern Conference play on Thursday at 5 p.m. when the Bears host ETSU at Hawkins Arena.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Thursday, January 5 | 5 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (11-3, 0-0 SoCon) vs. ETSU (8-7, 0-0 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Game Notes: Mercer | ETSU
Live Stats: MercerBears.com | Video: ESPN3 | Radio: Fox Sports 1670
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

STELLAR START
Mercer has started the season with a 11-3 record, the best under Coach Gardner. The Bears have recorded the program's best non-conference record in regular season play in the NCAA era. It is also the best start through 14 games since Mercer also went 12-2 at the beginning of the 1979-80 season.

PUTTING THE "W" IN HAWKINS ARENA
Mercer is 6-1 at Hawkins Arena so far this season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mercer has tallied a 28-10 mark in Hawkins Arena.

LAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY
Kahlia Lawrence is leading Mercer and ranks third in the SoCon with 17.3 points per game. The junior also ranks 75th nationally in ppg. Lawrence notched her seventh career double-double last week with 27 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Davidson. She has reached double figures in scoring 10 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 15.4 points per game.

Calloway has reached double figures in 10 games this season and led the Bears in scoring in six games, including a 21-point performance vs. West Georgia in December. She also ranks fourth in the league in ppg and is 160th nationally and fifth in the SoCon with 215 total points.

KEKE FOR THREE
KeKe Calloway leads Mercer and ranks third in the conference from outside the arc with 36 made three-pointers. Calloway also ranks 46th nationally in made three pointers. She is also first in the SoCon and 10th nationally with 125 attempted treys. Calloway is averaging 2.57 three-pointers a game, putting her third in the conference and 66th 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 88 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 scored a season-high 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win over Paine.

DEFENSE STANDING OUT
Mercer has focused more on defense this season and it has paid off. The Bears lead the SoCon and rank 41st nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score just 57.2 points per game. Mercer has held its opponents to less than 60 points in seven games and less than 50 points in four games this season.

BEARS ON THE BOARDS
Amanda Thompson leads Mercer on the boards with 7.8 rebounds per game this season, followed by Kayla Potts with 5.4 and Kahlia Lawrence and Alex Williams with 5.1 apiece.

Thompson ranks fourth in the SoCon in rebounds per game and is fifth in total rebounds (109). She has grabbed at least eight rebounds in seven of her last 11 contests, including a career-high 16 against Kennesaw State in December. Additionally, she leads the SoCon and ranks 27th nationally with 4 offensive rebounds per game.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS
As a team, Mercer has grabbed 154 steals and is averaging 11.0 steals per game. The Bears lead the SoCon in both categories and rank 27th and 33rd 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 87 assists and is averaging 6.2 apg, both of which lead the conference. She is ranked 17th nationally in total assists and 23rd in apg. Means also leads the conference with a 2.90 assist/ turnover ratio and ranks 15th nationally.

ALL ABOUT THE GIVE AND TAKE
In addition to leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game, Sydni Means has notched 40 steals and 2.86 steals per game and leads the conference in both categories. She ranks 22nd nationally in total steals and 34th 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 10.9 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 +9.79 turnover margin thus far. Mercer is forcing 20.71 turnovers per game, ranking first in the SoCon and 31st nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
ETSU leads the series with an 18-14 record. The teams are tied in Macon, 6-6, and in the last 10 meetings, 10-10. Last season, each team won on the road and ETSU handed the Bears their only home loss in SoCon play. As former Atlantic Sun foes, the Bears and the Bucs have met at least twice a season since the 2005-06 campaign.

SCOUTING ETSU
ETSU tallied an 8-7 mark in non-conference play and sits in fourth place in the standings as SoCon action begins. The Bucs wrapped up non-conference play with a pair of wins and are 3-2 on the road so far this season.

Tianna Tarter leads ETSU and the SoCon with 20.5 ppg, ranking 19th nationally. Shamauria Bridges is also averaging double-figures for the Bucs with 13.5 ppg. Bridges is a threat from downtown, leading the league in three-pointers per game (2.73) and three-pointers made (41).

Tarter also leads the Bucs with 5.6 rpg, followed by Raven Dean's 4.7 boards a game. Tarter is making the most of her junior season as she also leads ETSU in assists (70) and steals (38).

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.