Women’s Basketball Set for Season Opener at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – The Mercer women’s basketball team tips off the 2010-11 campaign Friday night, challenging Auburn in a non-conference test at 6 p.m.  The game marks the first event in the $86 million Auburn Arena.

LAST TIME OUT

MACON, Ga. – Freshman Brittnee Hazel netted 11 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double, but the Mercer women’s basketball team was upended by Georgia College and State University, 67-57, in Thursday night’s women’s basketball exhibition game at the University Center.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Auburn welcomes Mercer to Auburn Arena for the first official contest in the new venue. The Tigers, who return four starters from last year’s team that finished 15-16 (5-11 SEC), aim to knock off the Bears in the teams’ first meeting since 2001.

Auburn is 34-5 in home openers and is riding a streak of 31 consecutive opening game victories.

Auburn returns 80 percent of its scoring from 2009-10, highlighted by senior Alli Smalley’s 15.7 ppg average a year ago. Smalley was named to the Preseason All-SEC team by both the leagues’ coaches and the media.

The Tigers were picked to finish sixth among SEC competition in the preseason polls conducted by the leagues’ coaches and media.

GAME NOTES

On Friday night, Mercer head coach Susie Gardner makes her debut on the sidelines with the Bears. Gardner comes from Florida, where she spent three seasons as an assistant coach. Garnder’s career head coaching record is 176-147 in 11 seasons at Austin Peay and Arkansas.

Facing the Auburn Tigers is nothing new for head coach Susie Gardner, as she has spent four seasons at the helm of the Arkansas Razorbacks. While with Arkansas, Gardner went 2-2 in four meetings with Auburn.

Mercer’s 2010-11 roster features just one senior, one junior and 10 underclassmen. This year’s team returns just 28.5 percent of the scoring from last season. Six of Mercer’s 12 players have yet to play a regular season collegiate basketball game.

Since 2000, Mercer is 3-7 in season opening contests. Last season, Mercer fell to then No. 2 Oklahoma 108-66.