Women’s Basketball in Statesboro to Face Eagles

STATESBORO, Ga. – The Mercer women’s basketball team eyes its first win of the season at Georgia Southern on Tuesday night.  Game time at Hanner Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

AUBURN, Ala. - The Mercer women’s basketball team outscored Auburn in the second half, whittling a 20 point halftime deficit to just 10 with under six minutes remaining, but could not complete the comeback and ultimately fell 79-61 on Friday evening. The game, which was the first basketball contest in the newly minted Auburn Arena, marked the season opener for both teams.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Georgia Southern welcomes Mercer to Statesboro on Tuesday night after falling in its season opener to Georgia, 58-43. The Eagles return a pair of starters from last year’s team that that finished 19-12 (13-7 SoCon).

The Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the Southern Conference in a preseason poll conducted by the league’s coaches.

Last season, Mercer fell to the Eagles 76-45 at the University Center. In that game, four Georgia Southern players scored in double-figures, including current juniors Candice Ivy and Samantha Williams.

GAME NOTES

Tuesday’s matchup marks the 59th meeting between the schools on the hardwood. Mercer leads the series, 31-27, but has not beaten its in-state rival since Dec. 1, 1999.

Briana Williams’ 23 point scoring output at Auburn on Nov. 12 marked the highest scoring output for a first-year Mercer player since LaToya Jackson scored 28 points at Belmont on Jan. 22, 2009.

Last season, Mercer had its worst shooting performance of the year against Georgia Southern. Mercer was just 16-of-62 from the field in last year’s 76-45 loss at the University Center.