Mercer Returns Home to Play Covenant

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Women's Basketball team returns to action on Saturday when it welcomes Covenant to Hawkins Arena for a 2 p.m. tip.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 | 2 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (1-2) vs. Covenant (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Live Stats: mercerbears.com/livestats
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Bryce Koon and Sybil Blalock
Radio: Sports Mic
Radio Talent: Rick Cameron
Twitter Updates: @Mercer_WBB
Game Notes: Mercer | Covenant
Tickets: bit.ly/39EI5dS
Hawkins Arena Protocols: Click Here
Promotion: N/A

50 Years of Mercer Basketball
The Mercer women's basketball team is celebrating 50 years of competition throughout the 2020-21 season as the team is going to highlight a different decade each month from October to February for their accomplishments and the impact they made on the program.

Mercer's inaugural season was in 1970-71 when the Bears won their first-ever game against Wesleyan, 45-23.

Throughout the last half century, the Bears have collected multiple championship banners, including nine regular season conference titles and seven tournament crowns. Mercer has also won two regional tournaments and has been to the postseason 14 times.

Preseason Favorites
Mercer was named the preseason favorites by the coaches, earning five of eight first-place votes, in addition to being selected third by the media behind Chattanooga and Furman.

Individually, senior Shannon Titus was named to the Preseason All-SoCon Team for the second consecutive season as well as garnering Preseason Player of the Year honors. She becomes the third Mercer player in the last four seasons to be recognized as the preseason player of the year, along with KeKe Calloway (2018-19) and Kahlia Lawrence (2017-18). Titus is coming off a season in which she was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-SoCon selection.

Additionally, junior Jaron Dougherty was named to the Preseason All-SoCon Team. The Buford, Ga., native earned First Team All-SoCon honors a season ago.

Climbing the Polls
The Bears find themselves ranked 19th in the most recent CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll, which was released on Tuesday. Mercer is the only team from the Southern Conference ranked in the top-25 of the poll.

Double-Double Vision
Junior Jaron Dougherty has been a dominant force for the Bears on both ends of the floor, averaging 14.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game through the first three contests of the season. The Buford, Ga., native is one of two players in the SoCon to average a double-double on the season, along with Furman's Tierra Hodges (12.5 ppg/14.5 rpg).

Dougherty has one double-double in 2020-21, which came in a 25-point, 19-rebound outburst against Tennessee State on Nov. 28. She nearly posted her second in as many games on Wednesday with 15 points and nine rebounds at Clemson. Dougherty is among the best rebounders in the country, ranking 15th in total rebounds (33), 28th in defensive rebounds per game (8.7) and 38th in total rebounds per game (11.0).

Block Party
The Bears have been one of the most active teams around the rim, recording the 21st-most blocks in the country with 14 through the first three games. Mercer leads the SoCon in both total blocks and blocks per game (4.7). The Orange and Black are ranked 51st nationally in blocks per game.

It should come as no surprise that senior Shannon Titus and junior Jaron Dougherty are leading that effort for the Bears, both tallying four denials to tie for the individual lead in the SoCon. Sierra Votaw has also chimed in with three blocks in as many games to rank fourth in the conference.

Last Time Out
Mercer dropped a 67-54 decision to Clemson in its first road contest of the season on Wednesday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Bears were held to 32.8 percent (20-of-61) from the floor and made a season-low four three-pointers. Clemson managed to outrebound Mercer, 50-33, including 15 offensive rebounds that resulted in 14 second-chance points.

The scoring for the Bears was limited to four players in the game, led by Jada Lewis who dropped a game-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Jaron Dougherty added 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds, including three on the offensive end of the floor, while Amoria Neal-Tysor had nine points. Shannon Titus scored seven points and had a strong defensive performance, tallying three steals and three blocks in the game.

Scouting the Scots
Covenant has not played thus far in 2020-21 and is coming off a 10-16 campaign last season. The Scots are NCAA Division III members and compete in the USA South Athletic Conference. Covenant's offense primarily flowed through the two-headed monster of Hannah Monday and Ruthie Moore. Monday averaged 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest while Moore contributed 11.1 points and 7.3 boards per game.

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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Players Mentioned

Jaron Dougherty

Jada Lewis

Amoria Neal-Tysor

Shannon Titus

Sierra Votaw

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