Bears Travel to Buies Creek for Nonconference Tilt

Thursday, November 30

Buies Creek, N.C.

7 P.M.

Mercer University

Campbell

Bears Travel to Buies Creek for Nonconference Tilt

11/29/2017 2:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch Game Notes

By: David Fox

MACON, Ga. – Mercer Women's Basketball will cap off its three-game road swing with a nonconference showdown against the Campbell Camels tomorrow in Buies Creek, N.C. The game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. inside Gore Arena.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (4-2) at Campbell (4-1)
Location: Buies Creek, N.C. | Gore Arena
TV: Big South Network
TV Talent: Bill Priestley (Play-by-Play) / Wanda Watkins (Analyst)
Live Stats: gocamels.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB
Game Notes: Mercer | Campbell (Notes to come later)

On the Road Again
Mercer will conclude its three-game road trip with a 7 p.m. tilt against Campbell on Thursday night in Buies Creek, N.C. The Bears are 1-1 on the current road trip and hold a 3-1 overall record in contests played away from Hawkins Arena.

Climbing the Ladder
Kahlia Lawrence continues to climb up the ladder for career points in Mercer history. Lawrence most recently collected 14 points against VCU, tying Cindy Brogdon for seventh all-time in program history with 1,746 career points. The standout senior needs 111 points to pass former Mercer great, Sybil Blalock. Lawrence also needs 254 points to reach the 2,000-point milestone.

Fast Hands
Mercer's defense continues to provide problems for opponents. The Bears have forced 20 or more turnovers in five of their six games this season. Most recently, Mercer forced 21 turnovers against VCU in the final game of the GSU Thanksgiving Classic. The Bears force an average of 22.5 turnovers per game, ranking 28th in the NCAA.

Free for a Reason
Mercer continues to scorch the net from the charity stripe, shooting .836 percent from the line. The Bears average 8.5 free throws per game and rank first in the NCAA in free throw percentage. Kahlia Lawrence leads the team in percentage, shooting 1.000 on 13-of-13 from the line, while Sydni Means boasts a .917 percentage on 11-of-12.

Sharing is Caring
The Bears continue to distribute the ball well to one another. Mercer is averaging 16.0 assists per outing, ranking first in the SoCon and 73rd in the NCAA. The Bears' 96 total assists rank 71st in the NCAA, while their 1.23 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 41st.

Last Time Out
Most recently, Mercer competed in the 2017 GSU Thanksgiving Classic in Atlanta, Ga. The Bears dropped a heartbreaking 67-62 contest to Western Kentucky to open the tournament on Friday night. The Bears began the contest in a 13-0 hole, but clawed back to take a 60-57 advantage with under two minutes to play. The Lady Toppers finished the contest on a 10-2 run to claim the five-point victory, netting all 10 points from the charity stripe.

Mercer rebounded in the tournament finale on Sunday against VCU, downing the Rams by the final score of 70-54. The Bears controlled the tempo from the start and did not let up as Rachel Selph and Kahlia Lawrence netted a team-high 14 points. Kayla Potts turned in a season-best performance, registering six points, five rebounds and four assists.

Series History
Campbell leads the all-time series 26-13, despite falling in the latest showdown by the final score of 76-60 in Macon, Ga., on Nov. 16, 2016. Mercer's victory last season snapped a three-game skid against the Camels. Campbell has won seven of the last 10 meetings and are 13-5 in Buies Creek. The Bears' last victory in Buies Creek was a 67-57 triumph on Feb. 7, 2005.

Controlling the Camels
Campbell enters the contest with a 4-1 overall record, having won four consecutive games. The Camels dropped their season opener at Kansas (66-48) but have bounced back, most recently defeating SoCon foe UNCG, 72-61. The Camels are led in scoring by Summer Price, averaging 16.6 points per game and 2.4 rebounds. Price is tied with Caroline Bowns for the most three pointers made on the team with 13. Taya Bolden proves to be a force on the glass, averaging 10.6 rebounds per game which ranks 36th in the NCAA. Campbell is averaging 67.2 points per game, yielding just 52.6 to opponents. The Camels are scorching the net at .435 percent, while holding opponents to just .320 on the season. Campbell can also get the job done from downtown, averaging 9.0 threes per game.

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.