Monday, November 6
Bowling Green, Ky.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
at
Western Kentucky
Women's Basketball Visits Western Kentucky Monday In Season Opener
11/5/2023 11:46:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Tip Off is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET
MACON, Ga. - The Mercer women's basketball team will take the court for the first time this season on Monday when the Bears visit Western Kentucky for a 6 p.m. ET tip.
GAME INFO
Mercer (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) at Western Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 | 6 p.m. ET
Bowling Green, Ky. | E.A. Diddle Arena
TV:Â ESPN+Â - Scott Thompson (PxP), John Butler (Analyst)
SERIES HISTORY
This will be just the 4th meeting all-time between Mercer and Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky leads the series 2-1, with Mercer winning the last meeting 71-54 in Bowling Green.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky is coming off a 19-14 overall record and a 14-6 record in Conference USA. The Lady Toppers were much better at home than on the road as they
owned a 10-4 record at home against a sub-.500 record on the road at 7-9.
Western Kentucky is coached by Greg Collins who enters his sixth season with the program. He is 86-64 in his first five seasons and 57-32 in conference play. His Lady Toppers have finished fourth or better in the CUSA in four of his five seasons as head coach. Their best finish in the conference came last season when they finished second and lost to conference champion Middle Tennessee in the conference championship game.
Last season, Western Kentucky averaged 70.1 points per game and allowed 69.3 per game. They had the worst field goal percentage (39.3%) and field goal percentage defense (45.2%) in the conference last year.
The Lady Toppers were picked to finish in a tied for second place in the preseason coaches poll. Western Kentucky has two Preseason All-Conference players in junior Alexis Mead and sophomore Acacia Hayes.
Hayes is coming off a great freshman season for Western Kentucky in which she was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team. She led the Lady Toppers with 11.2 points per game. Mead is an excellent defender and led the team in steals and assists last season.
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
Just five of the 12 players on this year's team played on the 2022-23 team. Six of the other seven players are transfers and Ariana Dyson is the only freshman on the team.
Coach Gardner also brought in a new coaching staff as three of the four assistant coaches are in their first year with the program. Ali Trani was elevated to Assistant Coach after serving as Director of Basketball Operations last season.
NEED TO KNOW
Mercer is opening its regular season on the road for the first time since the 2018-19 season when the Bears visited Wake Forest.
FOLLOW THE BEARSÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter),  /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @Mercer_wbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Â
GAME INFO
Mercer (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) at Western Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 | 6 p.m. ET
Bowling Green, Ky. | E.A. Diddle Arena
TV:Â ESPN+Â - Scott Thompson (PxP), John Butler (Analyst)
SERIES HISTORY
This will be just the 4th meeting all-time between Mercer and Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky leads the series 2-1, with Mercer winning the last meeting 71-54 in Bowling Green.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky is coming off a 19-14 overall record and a 14-6 record in Conference USA. The Lady Toppers were much better at home than on the road as they
owned a 10-4 record at home against a sub-.500 record on the road at 7-9.
Western Kentucky is coached by Greg Collins who enters his sixth season with the program. He is 86-64 in his first five seasons and 57-32 in conference play. His Lady Toppers have finished fourth or better in the CUSA in four of his five seasons as head coach. Their best finish in the conference came last season when they finished second and lost to conference champion Middle Tennessee in the conference championship game.
Last season, Western Kentucky averaged 70.1 points per game and allowed 69.3 per game. They had the worst field goal percentage (39.3%) and field goal percentage defense (45.2%) in the conference last year.
The Lady Toppers were picked to finish in a tied for second place in the preseason coaches poll. Western Kentucky has two Preseason All-Conference players in junior Alexis Mead and sophomore Acacia Hayes.
Hayes is coming off a great freshman season for Western Kentucky in which she was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team. She led the Lady Toppers with 11.2 points per game. Mead is an excellent defender and led the team in steals and assists last season.
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
Just five of the 12 players on this year's team played on the 2022-23 team. Six of the other seven players are transfers and Ariana Dyson is the only freshman on the team.
Coach Gardner also brought in a new coaching staff as three of the four assistant coaches are in their first year with the program. Ali Trani was elevated to Assistant Coach after serving as Director of Basketball Operations last season.
NEED TO KNOW
Mercer is opening its regular season on the road for the first time since the 2018-19 season when the Bears visited Wake Forest.
FOLLOW THE BEARSÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter),  /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @Mercer_wbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballMercer Football Press Conference (Week 4 vs Citadel)
Monday, September 15
Mercer 22, Wofford 21 | Postgame Press Conference (9/13/25)
Sunday, September 14
Mercer Football 2025 | vs. Wofford | Full Game Highlights
Sunday, September 14
Mercer Football Press Conference (Week 3 vs. Wofford)
Monday, September 08
