Bears Open 2025-26 Campaign At UNC Asheville

MACON – Mercer will lift the lid on its 56^th season of intercollegiate women's basketball on Monday evening when the Bears trek to western North Carolina to take on Big South Conference rival UNC Asheville. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Kimmel Arena.

Fans unable to make the trip to Asheville can still follow the action for free via a live statistics link provided by the UNCA athletics department. The game is also scheduled to be broadcasted live on ESPN+.

ABOUT THE GAME
Date: Monday, November 3 Time: 6:30 p.m. ET Location: Asheville, N.C. I Kimmel Arena TV: ESPN+ Live Statistics: MercerBears.com/Live Twitter Updates: @Mercer_WBB

TICKETS
Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting the UNC Asheville athletic ticketing portal.

MERCER/UNC ASHEVILLE SERIES
Mercer leads the all-time series with UNC Asheville, 6-4, and will ride a three-game series win streak into Monday's contest. The Bears successfully opened the Michelle Clark-Head era with a 75-52 home win over the Bulldogs in last year's season opener for both sides. The Orange & Black has split four meetings in Asheville, but registered a 67-56 triumph on their last trip to the Land of the Sky.

ABOUT THE BEARS
Mercer brings back a trio of starters from last year's club, including senior Ariana Bennett who posted a team-leading 10.5 points per game and complemented her scoring numbers with 4.8 rebounds an outing. Guards Nahawa Diarra and Talia Harris combined for 53 starts in the backcourt last year, while the Bears also return sophomore Stephanie Utomi who shot 42.9 percent from the field across 19 games of action.

SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE
Sophomore forward Jazlyn Ware is the lone returning starter from last season's 4-27 squad that finished ninth in the Big South Conference regular season standings. Ware, one of just three returning letterwinners for the Bulldogs as well, started the last 11 games of the campaign and wrapped up her freshman season with per game averages of 1.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. Sophomores Trinity Fields and Deborah Orianegbena are the only other returners from the 2024-25 edition of the Bulldogs.

ON DECK
The Bears will open the home portion of its 2025-26 regular season schedule on Thursday when they suit up to take on Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson in Hawkins Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (X/Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @Mercer_wbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

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Players Mentioned

Ariana Bennett

Nahawa Diarra

Talia Harris

Stephanie Utomi

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