Bears Welcome Wildcats to Hawkins Arena

MACON, Ga. – Mercer Women's Basketball will compete inside the friendly confines of Hawkins Arena in five of the next six contests, beginning with hosting Davidson tomorrow at 2 p.m.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 | 2 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (5-2) vs. Davidson (3-4)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
TV: ESPN3
TV Talent: Todd Wilson (Play-by-Play) / Sybil Blalock (Analyst) / Kristin Banks (Sideline)
Radio: Fox Sports 1670, iHeartRadio, Sports Mic
Radio Talent: Rick Cameron
Live Stats: mercerbears.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB
Game Notes: Mercer | Davidson

Home Sweet Home
The Bears have only played in two home games through the first seven contests. Mercer gladly returns home to Hawkins Arena where it will play five of its next six games in front of the Mercer faithful. The Bears finished 12-2 at home last season and look to build off their 1-1 home mark thus far in the 2017-18 campaign.

Ball Security
The Bears continue to take care of the ball in the first seven games. Mercer is averaging 14.9 assists per contests on 25.9 made field goals per game. The Bears distribute the ball at a high rate, while also keeping the rock in their possession. Mercer averages 12.4 turnovers per contest and are coming off a season-low nine turnovers against the Camels. The Bears rank first in the conference and 17th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game.

Fast Hands
Mercer's defense continues to provide problems for opponents. The Bears have forced 20 or more turnovers in five of their seven games this season. Most recently, Mercer forced 18 turnovers against Campbell, including a critical Camel turnover which led to the Bears' game-winning shot. The Bears force an average of 21.9 turnovers per game, ranking 37th in the NCAA.

Where There's A Will, There's A Way
The Bears are fresh off a 58-57 thrilling victory over Campbell on Thursday. Mercer needed every bit of production on both sides of the ball to walk away with the victory. Lawrence netted a season-high 28 points on a season-high 11 made field goals. Mercer's defense stepped up in a big way in the closing quarter, yielding just one made field goal to the Camels. The Bears outscored Campbell in the final frame 19-9, pulling off the incredible come-from-behind victory.

Last Time Out
The Bears walked out of Buies Creek, N.C, with a 58-57 win over the Camels of Campbell. Kahlia Lawrence knocked down a season-high 28 points on a season-high 11 made field goals. Mercer trailed by as much as 11 points, clawing back into the contest in the final quarter of play. The Bears held Campbell to just one made field goal in the last quarter, outscoring the Camels 19-9 to claim the one-point victory. More impressive, Mercer forced 18 turnovers including stealing an inbounds pass with less than 10 seconds left that led to Sydni Means' game-winning shot.

Series History
The series is knotted at two apiece between the Bears and the Wildcats. Davidson claimed the first two meetings, including the first showdown against Coach Gardner back in 2011. However, Mercer is currently on a two-game winning streak in the matchup, winning last seasons battle by the final score of 67-60 in Davidson, N.C.

Working with the Wildcats
Davidson enters the showdown with a 3-4 overall record. The Wildcats have dropped two consecutive games, most recently falling to William & Mary by the final score of 73-55. Mackenzie Latt led the squad in scoring with 19, while grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds en route to a double-double. Davidson is currently 2-3 on the road this season, defeating Western Carolina and Appalachian State for its two road victories. The Wildcats are currently averaging 58.6 points per game, yielding 62.6. Davidson is also averaging a high rebound margin per game at 39.0, while also conceding 39.0 rebounds per game. The Wildcats knock down 5.9 three pointers per contest, shooting .306 percent from beyond the arc. Justine Lyon paces the squad in scoring with 14.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds. Lyon also ranks second in total assists with 16. Mackenzie Latt caps off the double-digit scorers for Davidson, averaging 10.6 points per game, while pulling down a team-best 7.9 rebounds per outing.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Kahlia Lawrence

Sydni Means

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