Mercer Hosts Western Carolina in Play4Kay Game

MACON, Ga. – The Bears are at home this weekend for the last time this weekend, starting with Thursday's Play4Kay game against Western Carolina. Mercer and Western Carolina will tip off at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Thursday, February 9 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (18-5, 7-2 SoCon) vs. Western Carolina (7-17, 2-7 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Game Notes: Mercer | Western Carolina
Live Stats: MercerBears.com | Video: ESPN3
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

STELLAR START
Mercer has started the season with a 18-5 record, the best under Coach Gardner. It is also the best start for the program since Mercer went 18-5 to start the 1979-80 season. The Bears 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 10-2 at Hawkins Arena so far this season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Mercer has tallied a 32-11 mark in Hawkins Arena.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSE
So far this season, Mercer has proved that it will continue to put on a show on offense. The Bears are atop the SoCon rankings in scoring offense (66.8 ppg) and scoring margin (8.5). Mercer also ranks second in assists per game (14.0).

In SoCon games, Mercer is second in scoring offense (63.8 ppg) and scoring margin (6.4), while leading in assists per game (13.2).

IT'S FOR FREE
As a team, the Bears have connected on 71.2 percent of their attempts from the free throw line this season. Mercer ranks third in the league and 114th nationally in free throw percentage. Mercer has hit over 80 percent of its free throws in six games this season. Additionally, Mercer has connected on 70+ percent of free throw attempts in seven of nine SoCon games.

Kahlia Lawrence ranks second in the SoCon with a 77.5 free throw percentage, having connected on 62 of 80 attempts. Sydni Means is 66-of-88 from the charity stripe, putting her third in the league with a 75.0 percentage.

LAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY
Kahlia Lawrence is leading Mercer and ranks second in the SoCon with 18.7 points per game. The junior also ranks 41st nationally in ppg. She has reached double figures in scoring 19 times this season, including 13 of the last 14 games, and topped 20 points in 10 games.

Lawrence has scored 20+ points in six of nine SoCon games, putting her atop the league standings with 20.8 ppg in SoCon play.

DUBS ON DUBS ON DUBS
Mercer is outscoring its opponents by 8.5 ppg this season, which is buoyed by three players averaging double figures in scoring. Kahlia Lawrence (18.7 ppg), KeKe Calloway (12.9 ppg) and Sydni Means (10.5 ppg) are leading the Bears offensively this season.

The Bears also have two players -- Lawrence (20.8 ppg), Means (11.8 ppg) -- averaging double figures in SoCon games. Alex Williams (9.0 ppg) is just below the double-figure mark.

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 151 assists and is averaging 6.6 apg, both of which lead the conference. She is ranked 14th and 15th nationally in both total assists and apg. Means also leads the conference with a 3.28 assist/ turnover ratio and ranks sixth nationally.

In SoCon play, Means is averaging 7.1 apg and has dished out a total of 64 assists, leading the league in both categories.

ALL ABOUT THE GIVE AND TAKE
In addition to leading the SoCon in assists and assists per game, Sydni Means has notched 62 steals and 2.70 steals per game and leads the conference in both categories. She ranks 27th nationally in total steals and 37th in steals per game. The junior point guard has recorded the SoCon's single-game highs for both assists (14) and steals (7). Means dished out 14 assists in the win over Furman three weeks ago, besting her previous career high (13) set at the end of December.

DEFENSE STANDING OUT
Mercer has focused more on defense this season and it has paid off. The Bears lead the SoCon and 29th nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score just 57.3 points per game. Mercer has held its opponents to less than 60 points in 13 games and less than 50 points in six games this season.

In league action, Mercer's opponents are averaging 57.3 ppg. The Bears have held SoCon opponents to less than 60 points in six of the nine games so far.

BEARS ON THE BOARDS
Amanda Thompson leads Mercer on the boards with 6.8 rebounds per game this season and ranks sixth among SoCon players in the category.

Alex Williams is leading the Bears in SoCon play with 7.7 rpg, followed by Thompson (5.2) and KeKe Calloway (4.7). Williams is third in the league in rebounding against SoCon opponents.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS
As a team, Mercer has grabbed 222 steals and is averaging 9.7 steals per game. The Bears lead the SoCon in steals per game, while ranking second in total steals. Additionally, Mercer ranks 52nd nationally in total steals and 61st 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.

HOLDING ONTO THE BALL
The Bears are protecting the rock well this year and are second in the nation with 10.3 turnovers per game. Mercer is also sixth in the nation in turnover margin, as the Bears have recorded a +7.61 turnover margin thus far. Mercer is forcing 17.91 turnovers per game, ranking second in the SoCon and 88th nationally.

Mercer has committed just 9.3 turnovers a game in SoCon play and has a turnover margin of 4.22, leading the conference in both categories.

KEKE FOR THREE
KeKe Calloway leads Mercer and ranks fifth in the conference and 106th nationally from outside the arc with 50 made three-pointers. She is also second in the SoCon and 26th nationally with 180 attempted treys. Calloway is averaging 2.17 three-pointers a game, putting her fourth in the conference and 122nd 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 ninth place with 102 made three-pointers.

SERIES HISTORY
Mercer has won all 10 meetings with Western Carolina. Last month, the Catamounts shut out the Bears in the first quarter and Mercer came back to win the game on a buzzer-beater shot from Rachel Selph. With the win, Mercer became the only school in the nation this season to be shutout in a quarter and win the game.

SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
Western Carolina is tied for seventh place in the SoCon standings after winning its last two games to move to 2-7 in conference play.

Raziyah Farrington and Sherae Bonner lead the Catamounts with 10.4 and 10.2 ppg, respectively. Each is averaging a team-leading 9.6 ppg in league action. Kyia Hough is averaging 7.2 ppg in SoCon play, up from her 6.3 ppg overall this season.

Bonner is also leading Western Carolina with 7.6 rpg in SoCon play and 9.5 boards a game overall.

For the second straight game, Mercer will be facing the reigning SoCon Player of the Week as Farrington earned the honors after averaging 20.0 ppg in WCU's wins last week.

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.

Mercer Hosts Western Carolina in Play4Kay Game

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Players Mentioned

KeKe Calloway

Kahlia Lawrence

Sydni Means

Rachel Selph

Amanda Thompson

Alex Williams

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