Celebrating 50 Years of Women’s Basketball: 1990’s
12/3/2020 12:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The women’s basketball program will recognize its teams and players from the 1990s throughout the month of December
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team is recognizing its teams of the 1990s in the month of December as part of its celebration of 50 years of competition.
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.
The late 80s and early 90s brought in a dynamic pair of players for Mercer. Andrea Congreaves and Stephany Raines formed a valuable 1-2 punch, bringing home two banners for the Bears in 1990-91 and '91-92. Congreaves patrolled the hardwood of Porter Gym from 1989-1993, filling up the stat sheets with 2,796 points, 1,107 field goals made, 153 three pointers, 429 free throws and corralling 1,141 rebounds. She currently holds program records in points scored, field goals made and field goal percentage (58.0 percent) while ranking second in scoring average (25.9 ppg), third in free throws made, rebounds and rebounds per game (10.6), fourth in field goals attempted (1,910), three point percentage (36.6 percent) and free throws attempted (570), seventh in three pointers made, three pointers attempted (418) and blocks (83) and steals (206) and eighth in free throw percentage (75.3 percent).
Congreaves was supported by Raines during the two championship seasons for Mercer. Raines proved to be an elite threat on the offensive end, becoming Mercer's all-time leader in career assists with 851.
During the 1990-91 season, the duo opened the season against perennial powerhouse Old Dominion, on the road, under the guidance of first year head coach Lea Henry. The Bears walked out of Norfolk, Va., victorious after a 74- 71 win and carried the momentum to a 4-0 start.
The Bears finished 18-9 overall with a 10-2 conference record. Congreaves led the nation in scoring with 33 points per contest. The Bears dropped an 85-74 contest to Florida A&M to end the season, but not before the first New South Women's Athletic Conference (NSWAC) banner in program history adorned the rafters of Porter Gym.
The 1991-92 Bears started slowly by dropping the first two games to Tennessee State and South Florida. After drawing back to .500 with wins over Marist and UCF, Mercer fell to 2-4 after consecutive losses to Georgia and College of Charleston. Things then started clicking as the Bears rattled off nine straight victories. Following a loss to Southeastern Louisiana, the Bears reeled off eight more wins.
Mercer clinched a share of the regular season title yet again, this time sharing with Florida International as both finished 10-2 in league play in the Bears' first year as a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference. The Bears posted their only 20-win season of the decade in 1991-92, going 20-8 with Congreaves leading the NCAA in scoring once again after averaging 31.0 points. She won her second Conference Player of the Year award and set the stage for her selection to the Kodak All- America Team in 1993.
The Orange and Black only posted two more winning seasons in the 90s, both under the direction of Billy Holmes. Holmes coached six different 1,000-point club members, including Lashon Brown who ranks 10th all-time with 1,402 career points. Mercer added the program's 400th win on Dec. 15, 1997 with a 77-45 victory over Brewton-Parker.
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.
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.
The late 80s and early 90s brought in a dynamic pair of players for Mercer. Andrea Congreaves and Stephany Raines formed a valuable 1-2 punch, bringing home two banners for the Bears in 1990-91 and '91-92. Congreaves patrolled the hardwood of Porter Gym from 1989-1993, filling up the stat sheets with 2,796 points, 1,107 field goals made, 153 three pointers, 429 free throws and corralling 1,141 rebounds. She currently holds program records in points scored, field goals made and field goal percentage (58.0 percent) while ranking second in scoring average (25.9 ppg), third in free throws made, rebounds and rebounds per game (10.6), fourth in field goals attempted (1,910), three point percentage (36.6 percent) and free throws attempted (570), seventh in three pointers made, three pointers attempted (418) and blocks (83) and steals (206) and eighth in free throw percentage (75.3 percent).
Congreaves was supported by Raines during the two championship seasons for Mercer. Raines proved to be an elite threat on the offensive end, becoming Mercer's all-time leader in career assists with 851.
During the 1990-91 season, the duo opened the season against perennial powerhouse Old Dominion, on the road, under the guidance of first year head coach Lea Henry. The Bears walked out of Norfolk, Va., victorious after a 74- 71 win and carried the momentum to a 4-0 start.
The Bears finished 18-9 overall with a 10-2 conference record. Congreaves led the nation in scoring with 33 points per contest. The Bears dropped an 85-74 contest to Florida A&M to end the season, but not before the first New South Women's Athletic Conference (NSWAC) banner in program history adorned the rafters of Porter Gym.
The 1991-92 Bears started slowly by dropping the first two games to Tennessee State and South Florida. After drawing back to .500 with wins over Marist and UCF, Mercer fell to 2-4 after consecutive losses to Georgia and College of Charleston. Things then started clicking as the Bears rattled off nine straight victories. Following a loss to Southeastern Louisiana, the Bears reeled off eight more wins.
Mercer clinched a share of the regular season title yet again, this time sharing with Florida International as both finished 10-2 in league play in the Bears' first year as a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference. The Bears posted their only 20-win season of the decade in 1991-92, going 20-8 with Congreaves leading the NCAA in scoring once again after averaging 31.0 points. She won her second Conference Player of the Year award and set the stage for her selection to the Kodak All- America Team in 1993.
The Orange and Black only posted two more winning seasons in the 90s, both under the direction of Billy Holmes. Holmes coached six different 1,000-point club members, including Lashon Brown who ranks 10th all-time with 1,402 career points. Mercer added the program's 400th win on Dec. 15, 1997 with a 77-45 victory over Brewton-Parker.
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.
Mercer Women's Lacrosse 2026 | vs. Furman | Big South Championship Semifinal | Full Game Highlights
Saturday, May 02
Mercer v. Georgia Southern | Baseball Highlight Reel: 4/29/26
Thursday, April 30
Mercer Women's Lacrosse 2026 | vs. Longwood| Full Game Highlights
Saturday, April 25
Mercer Men's Lacrosse 2026 | vs. Jacksonville | Full Game Highlights
Saturday, April 25
