November 26, 2010

Thanksgiving Tournament on Tap for Women’s Hoops

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s basketball team returns to the hardwood this weekend, competing in Georgia State’s Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.  The Bears first square off with Rice on Saturday at 4 p.m. before challenging either Georgia State or Alabama A&M on Sunday afternoon.

LAST TIME OUT

MACON, Ga. – Three Mercer players scored in double figures and the Bears held a five point advantage at halftime, but Furman’s Kelly O’Connor netted 20 second half points to lift the Paladins to a 63-47 win in Friday night’s non-conference women’s basketball game.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Rice

Rice is 2-3 on the season after falling to Texas A&M, 80-40 on Nov. 20.  The Owls return four starters from last year’s team that finished 13-17 (7-9 CUSA).

Rice played all five of their games in an eight-day stretch that included competition at the World Vision Invitational in Waco, Texas.  Rice has already faced a pair of powerhouse opponents in No. 2 Baylor and No. 8 Texas A&M.

Georgia State

Georgia State is 2-1 after most recently knocking off Bethune Cookman 70-49 on November 23.  The Panthers feature returning starters from last year’s squad that finished 15-15 (6-12 CAA).

The Panthers were picked to finish ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches. 

Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M enters the Thanksgiving Tournament with a 1-2 mark after falling to Lipscomb, 77-70 in its last outing.

If Mercer faces Alabama A&M this weekend, it will mark the first women’s basketball game between the two schools.

TOURNAMENT NOTES

Freshman Sharnea Boykin has been on the floor for 108 of Mercer’s 120 minutes of game time this season. Aside from missing eight minutes at Georgia Southern due to injury, Boykin has played at least 38 minutes in each game.

 

Against Rice, Mercer will attempt to avoid its first 0-4 start since the 2002-03 season. That year, the Bears started out 0-9.

 

Mercer’s game against Rice kicks off a five game road trip. After losing to Furman in its home opener on Nov. 19, the Bears don’t return to the friendly confines of the University Center until December 20.

Briana Williams was tabbed as the Atlantic Sun Newcomer of the week after leading the team in scoring in two consecutive games. Williams scored 18 points at Georgia Southern and netted 10 points against Furman.

 

Briana Williams leads the Atlantic Sun conference freshman class in scoring. Williams is averaging 17.0 ppg, ranking her third among all A-Sun players in scoring average.

 

Mercer holds a combined 26-34 record versus teams in the GSU Thanksgiving Tournament.