Mercer Returns Home to Host Spartans

MACON, Ga. – Mercer will look to remain undefeated in Southern Conference action as it plays its first home game in nearly three weeks as it hosts UNCG at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Hawkins Arena.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 14 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (16-7, 8-0 SoCon) vs. UNCG (9-15, 3-6 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Live Stats: MercerBears.com
TV: ESPN+
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

SERIES HISTORY
The Bears have never lost to UNCG as they own a 10-0 record against the conference foe. The two teams first met in Greensboro, N.C. in 1979, when Mercer won a dominant 94-55 contest. Since the Bears joined the SoCon in the 2014-15 season, Mercer has won all nine meetings, including a 71-58 victory in Greensboro last month. Mercer has won each meeting with UNCG in Macon by at least 11 points.

SCOUTING UNCG
The Spartans enter Thursday's game with a 9-15 overall record and 3-6 mark in SoCon action. Nadine Soliman earned SoCon Player of the Week honors for the Spartans in December and leads the team in points (19.1) and rebounds (7.7) per game. Since losing to Mercer on Jan. 19, the Spartans are 2-3 with wins at home against Western Carolina and Wofford and losses to ETSU, Chattanooga and Furman.

DEFENSIVE GRIND
Mercer has turned up the heat with its defensive pressure since opening SoCon play at the start of January. In eight league games, Mercer has held its opponents to a sub-.400 shooting percentage five times, including two straight performances at Furman and Samford. Mercer held UNCG to a .356 shooting percentage (21-of-59) in their first meeting of the season last month. The Bears also held UNCG to 3-of-17 from behind the arc, which was their best defensive performance against the three-pointer so far in SoCon play.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Bears are 7-3 overall at Hawkins Arena this season, including three straight wins in SoCon play. Since joining the SoCon in 2014-15, Mercer is 54-15 overall at home.

HITTING HER STRIDE
Sophomore Shannon Titus has emerged as a key scoring threat for the Bears since the start of SoCon play and has provided Mercer with a third option to accompany Amanda Thompson and KeKe Calloway. Titus is shooting 51.5 percent from the field and is averaging 15.4 points per game in league play, highlighted by seven double-figure scoring performances, including 18 at Furman on Feb. 2.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

KeKe Calloway

Amanda Thompson

Shannon Titus

Footer

Mercer University Athletics