Mercer to Close Non-Conference Slate

MACON, Ga. – Mercer Women's Basketball will look to get back into the win column on Sunday when the Bears host the Lions of Columbia at 2 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena. Sunday's showdown will be the final non-conference tilt of the 2018-19 regular season.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 | 2 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (8-6) vs. Columbia (3-9)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Live Stats: mercerbears.com/livestats
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Todd Wilson & Sybil Blalock
Radio: 100.9 "The Creek", Sports Mic
Radio Talent: Rick Cameron
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB
Game Notes: Mercer

Career Years
Mercer's starting five are all on pace to finish with career highs in at least one category. KeKe Calloway is aiming for a career high in points, currently sitting at 19.4 points per game. Thompson is averaging career highs in both points (12.4) and rebounds (9.0). Rachel Selph (8.6) and Shannon TItus (9.1) are both on pace for a career high in points, while Selph is also averaging a personal-best of 5.4 rebounds per game. Linnea Rosendal (8.6) is 0.4 points behind her freshman season mark of 9.0 points, but is currently tied for a career high in assists with 35 on the season.

What Lies Ahead
KeKe Calloway continues to pace the Bears in scoring and in three pointers made. The senior guard is just 10 points shy of 1,500 career points and is 254 points away from passing Briana Williams for 9th all-time in Mercer scoring. Calloway currently holds the program record for three pointers made (254 & counting). The Georgia native is 23 triples shy of passing Emily London of Samford for the third-most threes in SoCon history. Calloway is also looking to become just the third player in league history to reach 300 career threes.

Gaining on 'Em
The Bears continue to climb up the NCAA rankings in assist-to-turnover ratio and ball security. Despite graduating one of the most elite point guards in program history, the Bears are leading the conference and ranking 25th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.23). The Bears are also holding steady to a Top 10 ranking in fewest turnovers per game, averaging just 11.9 turnovers.

Last Time Out
Mercer dropped a tough 71-66 decision to Jacksonville on Wednesday in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bears got off to a 5-0 run to start the game before yielding an 11-2 spurt to the Dolphins. Mercer cut the deficit in half heading to the second quarter, trailing 15-13. Jacksonville extended its lead to seven points midway through the second quarter before the Bears closed the half on a 12-3 run to take the 33-31 advantage heading into the locker room. Mercer built its lead to six points out of the gate before the Dolphins went on an 8-0 run to put Jacksonville back on top. The Bears reclaimed the one-point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play, 45-44. Mercer built its largest lead at 51-44 with 7:41 left to play. However, the Dolphins responded with a 16-4 run to all but seal the game. The deficit was too big, too late as the Bears dropped their four-game winning streak.

Amanda Thompson finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth consecutive double-double. Shannon Titus added 13 points and seven rebounds, while KeKe Calloway chipped in for 11 points.

Series History
Mercer and Columbia have squared off once with the Lions claiming the narrow 60-51 victory over Mercer in New York on Nov. 24, 2007.

Learning About the Lions
Columbia enters the Sunday showdown with a 3-9 overall mark, most recently defeating Hampton on Wednesday, 88-63. The win snapped a nine-game skid by the Lions. Riley Casey tallied a career-high 31 points as the sophomore guard buried seven three pointers.

Sienna Durr is Columbia's leading scorer, averaging 15.0 points per game. Durr accounted for 21 against Hampton on Wednesday. Durr is also the leading rebounder, averaging 6.3 boards per contest. Janiya Clemmons ranks second on the squad in both categories with 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds. Madison Hardy and Casey lead the team in three pointers made with 27 and 23, while averaging 9.4 points per contest.

The Lions allow nearly 70 points to opponents, while averaging just south of 66 per game. The Lions do much of their damage from downtown with 7.3 three pointers made per game. Columbia ranks inside the Top 100 in threes made per game, total threes made and three pointers attempted.

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

KeKe Calloway

Linnea Rosendal

Rachel Selph

Amanda Thompson

Shannon Titus

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