Mercer Returns to Hawkins to Face Furman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Women's Basketball team makes its long-awaited return to Hawkins Arena this weekend as the Bears host Furman on Thursday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (6 p.m.) in Southern Conference action.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 | 7 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (8-4, 2-1 SoCon) vs. Furman (5-7, 1-2 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Tickets: bit.ly/3gRBPB1
Live Stats: mercerbears.com/livestats
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Avery Braxton and Sybil Blalock
Radio: 100.9 "The Creek", Sports Mic
Radio Talent: Rick Cameron
Twitter Updates: @Mercer_WBB
Game Notes: Mercer | Furman
Hawkins Arena Protocols: Click Here
Promotion: $2 Thursdays

Date: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 | 6 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (9-4, 3-1 SoCon) vs. Furman (5-8, 1-3 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Tickets: bit.ly/37qSY1c
Live Stats: mercerbears.com/livestats
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Bryce Koon and Sybil Blalock
Radio: 100.9 "The Creek", Sports Mic
Radio Talent: Rick Cameron
Twitter Updates: @Mercer_WBB
Game Notes: Mercer | Furman
Hawkins Arena Protocols: Click Here
Promotion: Scout Day

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.

Titus Closing In on 1,000 Points
Senior Shannon Titus is closing in on becoming the 27th member of the 1,000-point club in program history. The Johns Creek, Ga., native has scored 981 points throughout her career in the Orange and Black, putting her 19 points shy of reaching the milestone.

Oh Hawkins Arena, How We've Missed Thee
Mercer returns to Hawkins Arena for the first time in 37 days on Thursday after completing a five-game road trip. The Bears went 4-1 on the road trip after closing out their time away from home with a pair of wins at UNCG last weekend.

Mercer's last home game was on Dec. 15, a decisive 77-27 victory over South Carolina State.

Neal-Tysor Named SoCon Player of the Week
Junior Amoria Neal-Tysor was named the SoCon Player of the Week, presented by GEICO, for the first time in her career on Tuesday after leading the Bears to a pair of wins at UNCG last weekend.

The Sanford, N.C., native averaged 27.5 points per game, dropping 25 and 30 against the Spartans. She connected on 63.9 percent (23-of-36) of her shots from the field and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from beyond-the-arc. It was the second time this season that Neal-Tysor had recorded 20+ points in consecutive games and her second 30-point performance. She got the ball rolling for Mercer in both games, averaging 19.0 points in the first half between the two games with 18 first-half points on Thursday and 20 on Saturday.

Packing a Punch
Juniors Amoria Neal-Tysor (215 pts./17.9 ppg) and Jaron Dougherty (203 pts./16.9 ppg) have provided a hard-hitting 1-2 punch for the Bears on the offensive end of the floor, holding the top-two spots in the SoCon for both total points and points per game. They are one of just three pairs of teammates to hold this distinction, along with Haley Cavinder (222 pts./20.2 ppg) and Hanna Cavinder (199 pts./18.1 ppg) of Fresno State (Mountain West Conference) and Lasha Petree (294 pts./21.0 ppg) and Gabi Haack (230 pts./16.4 ppg) of Bradley (Missouri Valley Conference).

Additionally, Neal-Tysor (46.9 fg pct.) and Dougherty (45.5 fg pct.), are one of just two pairs of teammates to each score more than 200 points, average at least 16.9 points per game and have a field goal percentage of 45 or more, joined by Maryland's Diamond Miller (215 pts./17.9 ppg/51.4 fg pct.) and Ashley Owusu (213 pts./17.8 ppg/47.4 fg pct.).

D-FENCE! D-FENCE!
Mercer has been one of the most tenacious teams in the country when it comes to playing defense.

The Bears lead the SoCon in scoring defense (57.8), scoring margin (+12.2), opponent field goal percentage (35.7 pct.), turnover margin (+7.08), steals (115), blocks (62), blocks per game (5.2) and assist-turnover ratio. Additionally, they rank second in opponent 3-point percentage (25.4 pct.), turnovers forced per game (20.42), steals per game (9.6) and rebounds (456).

Mercer ranks in the top-75 in 11 of these categories, including being in the top-50 in blocks (13th), turnover margin (14th), blocks per game (230th), steals (33rd), turnovers forced per game (34th), assist-turnover ratio (36th), opponent field goal percentage (38th), opponent 3-point percentage (38th) and scoring defense (40th).

Last Time Out
Junior Amoria Neal-Tysor dropped 30 points as Mercer captured a 73-58 victory over UNCG on Saturday afternoon at Fleming Gymnasium.

The Bears improved to 8-4 on the season and 2-1 in SoCon play following their weekend sweep in Greensboro. Neal-Tysor paced the Bears for the second consecutive game with 30 points, going a personal-best 13-of-18 from the field and 4-of- 7 makes from beyond-the-arc. She was joined by Jada Lewis (14 pts.), Jaron Dougherty (11 pts.) and Shannon Titus (10 pts.) in double figures. Dougherty added 10 rebounds for her second-straight double-double and fifth overall on the season.

As a team, Mercer shot an impressive 51.6 percent (32-of-62) from the field, including making 6-of-14 shots from 3-point range. The Black and Orange won the turnover battle, 20-9, and made UNCG pay for their mistakes by scoring 25 points off turnovers. On the defensive end of the floor, the Bears held UNCG to 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the field and 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from long range.

Series History
The Bears are 17-5 all-time against Furman, including a 12-2 mark since joining the Southern Conference in 2014-15. Mercer has won 12-of-its-last-13 games against Furman with the lone blemish over that stretch coming on Jan. 9 of last season in the conference opener.

In the last meeting, Mercer captured a 61-55 victory in Hawkins Arena on Feb. 8 last year. Juniors Amoria Neal-Tysor and Jaron Dougherty paced the Bears in the contest, each scoring a game-high 17 points. Dougherty added her ninth career double-double, while Jill Harris tallied a career-high 12 points against the Paladins.

Scouting the Paladins
Furman enters Thursday's matchup with a 5-7 record (1-2 SoCon) after topping Chattanooga, 52-46, for its first conference win of the season on Saturday. Tierra Hodges led the Paladins, as she has done all season, with 16 points on 6-of- 13 shooting from the field along with a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Hodges has been the driving force for Furman throughout the 2020-21 season, leading the conference in double-doubles (7), rebounds (125) and rebounds per game (10.4). She ranks 12th nationally in double-doubles and 18th in total rebounds. Additionally, her 16.6 points per game has her as the only player in the SoCon averaging a double-double.

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

Jill Harris

Jada Lewis

Amoria Neal-Tysor

Shannon Titus

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