Women’s Hoops to Host UNC Asheville in Wednesday Matinee

MACON, Ga. – After falling just short of a comeback win against Charleston Southern Monday night, the Mercer women’s basketball team gets its second crack at a Big South opponent when UNC Asheville comes to the University Center on Wednesday.  Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

Sophomore Kendra Grant led all scorers with 24 points, but her three-point attempt as time expired came up short and Charleston Southern escaped with a 71-68 win Monday night.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

UNC Asheville enters the matchup with Mercer at 5-4 after dropping its most recent game at Marquette, 75-46. The Bulldogs return two starters from last year’s team that finished 8-22 (3-13).

The Bulldogs were selected to finish eighth in the Big South in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches.

Senior guard Kendall Shepard is the reigning Big South Player of the Week after averaging 17 points in two games last week. Shepard netted 22 points in UNC Asheville’s victory over South Carolina State before tallying 12 points against Marquette.

GAME NOTES

The Bulldogs look to make it three in a row against A-Sun competition after topping both Campbell and USC Upstate earlier this season.

Sophomore Kendra Grant has set career-high scoring marks in each of the Bears’ last two games.  On Dec. 7, Grant netted 14 points at Georgia before tallying 24 against Charleston Southern Monday night.

Sharmesia Smith has led the team in rebounding in five of the last six contests. Over that stretch, Smith is averaging 8.2 boards per game.