In the Rafters: Sybil Blalock and Vivian Humphrey
10/27/2020 1:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Both Sybil Blalock’s #10 and Vivian Humphrey’s #14 are retired by the Bears
MACON, Ga. – As part of its 50 Years of Mercer Basketball celebration, the women's basketball team is recognizing two members of the program's first decade who had their jerseys retired: Sybil Blalock and Vivian Humphrey.
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Throughout the 2020-21 season, Mercer women's basketball is going to highlight a different decade each month from October to February for their accomplishments and the impact they made on the program.
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Blalock set the precedent for the program early on after joining the Bears in their second season. After a 3-5 season in the team's inaugural season, Blalock helped turn Mercer into an instant success, going 21-1 and capturing the Southern Women's Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season and tournament championship in the 1971-72 season. With Blalock leading the charge, the Bears went on to win the 1973 Region III tournament title and the 1974 GAIAW tournament crown.
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A prolific scorer before the 3-point line was instituted in the early 1980's, Blalock guided the Bears to an 87-13 record through her four years with the program. She remains a constant in the program's record book, ranking fourth in career points per game (18.9), fifth in field goal percentage (.534), sixth in field goals made (806) and seventh on Mercer's all-time scoring list (1,856).
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Humphrey continued that trend of success throughout the end of the decade, aiding the Bears to a pair of GAIAW tournament titles (1978-79, 1979-80), a GAIAW regular season crown (1979-80) and a Region III tournament championship (1979-80). The 1979-80 squad held the program record for most wins in a season for 38 years until the 2017-18 Bears posted the program's first 30-win season.
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A tenacious competitor, Humphrey was one of the most active Bears every time she was on the court. Her 434 free throws made remains the highest total in program history, while she is one of just four players in Mercer history to eclipse the 2,000-point mark at 2,284. Only Andrea Congreaves has scored more points than Humphrey in a Mercer uniform with 2,796 points. Humphrey also ranks third in career scoring average (19.7) and field goals made (925), while boasting the sixth-best free throw percentage (.759) and the 10th most rebounds (705).
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Throughout the 2020-21 season, Mercer women's basketball is going to highlight a different decade each month from October to February for their accomplishments and the impact they made on the program.
Â
Blalock set the precedent for the program early on after joining the Bears in their second season. After a 3-5 season in the team's inaugural season, Blalock helped turn Mercer into an instant success, going 21-1 and capturing the Southern Women's Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season and tournament championship in the 1971-72 season. With Blalock leading the charge, the Bears went on to win the 1973 Region III tournament title and the 1974 GAIAW tournament crown.
Â
A prolific scorer before the 3-point line was instituted in the early 1980's, Blalock guided the Bears to an 87-13 record through her four years with the program. She remains a constant in the program's record book, ranking fourth in career points per game (18.9), fifth in field goal percentage (.534), sixth in field goals made (806) and seventh on Mercer's all-time scoring list (1,856).
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Humphrey continued that trend of success throughout the end of the decade, aiding the Bears to a pair of GAIAW tournament titles (1978-79, 1979-80), a GAIAW regular season crown (1979-80) and a Region III tournament championship (1979-80). The 1979-80 squad held the program record for most wins in a season for 38 years until the 2017-18 Bears posted the program's first 30-win season.
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A tenacious competitor, Humphrey was one of the most active Bears every time she was on the court. Her 434 free throws made remains the highest total in program history, while she is one of just four players in Mercer history to eclipse the 2,000-point mark at 2,284. Only Andrea Congreaves has scored more points than Humphrey in a Mercer uniform with 2,796 points. Humphrey also ranks third in career scoring average (19.7) and field goals made (925), while boasting the sixth-best free throw percentage (.759) and the 10th most rebounds (705).
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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