Bears Set for Saturday Clash with Samford

Saturday, January 13

Birmingham, Ala.

3 P.M.

Mercer University

Samford

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

1/12/2018 2:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch Game Notes

By: David Fox

MACON, Ga. – Mercer Women's Basketball aims for win number 13 in-a-row on Saturday when the Bears travel to Birmingham, Ala., to take on the Samford Bulldogs. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. ET at the Pete Hanna Center.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 | 3 p.m. ET
Teams: Mercer (15-2, 1-0) at Samford (8-9, 0-2)
Location: Birmingham, Ala. | Pete Hanna Center
TV: ESPN3
TV Talent: Curt Bloom, Emily London and Kallee Taulbee
Live Stats: samfordsports.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB
Game Notes: Mercer | Samford

Not Slowing Down
Mercer enters Saturday's showdown on a 12-game winning streak, most recently defeating Furman by the final score of 86-64 in Greenville, S.C. The Bears are going for win number 13 in-a-row on Saturday, which would mark the longest winning streak for Mercer since joining the NCAA Division I level. The program record for consecutive wins is 21 set in 1973 when the Bears competed at the AIAW Division I level.

Triple Threat
The Bears have arguably the most dynamic trio in women's basketball in Kahlia Lawrence, KeKe Calloway and Sydni Means. Means is currently ranked second in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.50) and in total assists (144), while ranking third in assists per game (8.5). Lawrence ranks 10th in the NCAA in field goals made (130) and 24th in total points (327). Lastly, Calloway is turning heads in the NCAA, ranked second in three point field goals made (67), third in three point attempts (162) and fifth in threes made per game (3.94).

You Can Only Hope to Contain Her
KeKe Calloway has taken the SoCon by storm as of late, garnering national attention in the process. Calloway has registered 194 points in the last seven games, averaging 27.7 per game. During the seven-game span, Calloway has notched three separate career-high performances. Most recently, Calloway netted a career-best 40 points, behind a career-high and NCAA record 12 threes. The junior guard was named to NCAAW Starting Five and was a candidate for ESPNW National Player of the Week. Calloway ran away with the SoCon Player of the Week award, averaging 37.0 points per game in her last two outings. In the last seven games, Calloway has connected on 40-88 three point attempts (45.5 percent), averaging 5.7 threes per game.

Double-Digit, Double-Digit Wins
Mercer has now won 10 consecutive games by double digits. Most recently, the Bears defeated Furman by the final score of 86-64. Mercer is outscoring opponents 778-566 during the double-digit, double-digit win streak. The last 10 games, the Bears are averaging 77.8 points, while yielding just 56.6 to opponents for a point differential of 21.2. The largest margin of victory during the run came against Winthrop, 93-45.

Last Time Out
Mercer is fresh off an 86-64 victory over Furman on Saturday in Greenville, S.C. The Bears soared ahead 25-12 in the opening quarter behind Calloway's 17 points. Mercer then stretched its lead to 15 points at halftime after claiming the second quarter, 16-14. The offense continued to click in the second half, outscoring the Paladins 45-38, including 24-15 in the final quarter.

Calloway ended the game with an NCAA record 12 threes, knocking down a career-best 40 points. The junior guard also tallied a team-high six rebounds. Kahlia Lawrence ended the game with 16 points, while Sydni Means finished with 15 assists and just two turnovers.

Series History
The Bears are 14-5 all-time against Samford, entering Saturday's tilt on an 11-game winning streak against the Bulldogs. Mercer claimed the first three games in the series, before dropping five consecutive outings to Samford. Since then, Mercer has won 11 straight, including eight under current head coach Susie Gardner. The Bears are 6-3 all-time in Birmingham, having won five consecutive games in Alabama.

Scouting Samford
Samford is 8-9 on the season heading into Saturday's contest. The Bulldogs have dropped two consecutive games to Furman (45-41) and Wofford (58-46). Samford is 0-2 in conference play, of which both games have been played on the road. The Bulldogs are 7-1 inside the Pete Hanna Center this season, falling only to Colorado to open the season, 71-60.

Samford is led in scoring by Hannah Nichols, averaging 15.1 points per game and 7.3 rebounds. Nichols ranks fifth in the SoCon in scoring and third in rebounding. Nichols is the three-point threat for Samford as well, knocking down 35 triples on the season.

The Bulldogs average 58.5 points per game, yielding 62.9 to opponents. The Bulldogs knock down 6.3 threes per game, allowing opponents to capitalize on 4.8 per outing. As a team, Samford is averaging 16.7 turnovers per game which is the fourth most in the SoCon.

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.