Mercer Begins Conference Season Thursday

Thursday, March 29

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

5 p.m.

Mercer University

Central Michigan

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

3/28/2018 12:46:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Mercer will face Central Michigan and Detroit Mercy

By: Mary Bess Skinner

MACON, Ga. – Mercer will travel to Michigan this week as it makes its first conference road trip of the season for a two-game slate on Thursday and Saturday.

The Bears will face Central Michigan on Thursday at 5 p.m., followed by a battle with Detroit Mercy on Saturday at 12 p.m. Mercer begins conference play with a 3-5 overall record.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Bears vs. Cheppewas
Date: Thursday, March 29 | 5 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (3-5) vs. Central Michigan (4-4)
Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Watch: cmuchippewas.com/watch
Live Stats: cmuchippewas.com/live
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

Bears vs. Titans
Date: Saturday, March 31 | 12 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (3-5) vs. Detroit Mercy (3-5)
Location: Detroit, Mich.
Watch: detroittitans.com/watch
Live Stats: detroittitans.com/live
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

SERIES HISTORY
Mercer heads into Thursday with a 2-0 overall record against Central Michigan. The teams met last year in Mount Pleasant, Mich. when the Bears walked away with a 15-8 victory. The Bears face Detroit Mercy on Sunday who lead the overall series 3-1. Mercer outlasted the Titans 9-7 in Detroit, Mich. Last season.

NOTABLES

This is the first year Mercer women's lacrosse has competed in the Southern Conference. The Bears previously played in the Atlantic Sun Conference, going 7-3 in ASUN play.
Mercer ranks first in the SoCon in goals per game (12.38), assists (6.12), ground balls (21.38), points (18.50), draw controls (14.00), shots per game (29.62) and caused turnovers (9.38).
Kate Leone leads the SoCon, averaging 3.00 goals per game and 6.25 shots per game. Leone owns 24 goals for season. Leone is 44th nationally in shots on goal per game, averaging 5.00.
Lindsey Zeltwanger ranks seventh nationally and first in the conference in assists per game (2.50). Zeltwanger's 20 assists rank 16th nationally. Zeltwanger also leads the SoCon in points per game (4.12) and free position goals, totaling six for the season.
Mercer's Defensive Player of the Week, Audrey Robertson, ranks second in the SoCon in ground balls per game (3.12), totaling 25 for the season. Robertson leads the conference in caused turnovers per game, averaging 2.00 per game.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan (4-4) opens the conference hosting Mercer (3-5) after recently defeating Saint Francis 17-12 on March 17.

Emma Hamilton leads the team with 21 points, including 17 goals and four assists. Jocelyne Lemay leads the draw circle totaling 30 for the season. Dominique Hamman defends the pipes, making 32 saves for the season registering a .381 save percentage. Hope Murray has also spent time defending the goal, adding 28 saves this season.

SCOUTING DETROIT MERCY
Detroit Mercy will play Kennesaw State on Thursday before facing Mercer for the SoCon opening on Saturday.

Kaitlyn Wandelt leads the Titans with 32 points, including 22 goals for the season. Wandelt also leads with 38 draw controls and 22 ground balls. Detroit Mercy's starting goalie, Allison McDonough, has notched 91 saves for the season, registering a .462 save percentage.

For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWLax (Twitter), /MercerWomensLacrosse (Facebook) and @MercerWLax (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.