Women’s Basketball Open A-Sun Play Thursday

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team begins its Atlantic Sun conference schedule this week, challenging Belmont in Nashville at 6 p.m Thursday.

LAST TIME OUT

ATLANTA, Ga. – Mercer sophomore Sharmesia Smith scored a season-high 12 points and the Bears closed to within two points of Alabama A&M in the waning seconds, but the Bulldogs forced a key stop and ultimately prevailed 63-59 in Sunday afternoon's women's basketball contest.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Belmont is 2-3 after most recently topping Central Arkansas, 78-73 on November 27.  The Bruins feature three returning starters from last year's team that finished 15-15 (9-11 A-Sun).

Among Belmont's returning starters is preseason all-conference honoree Haley Nelson.  Nelson has missed Belmont's first three games this season, but has since scored 18 points against Tennessee Tech and 17 points against Central Arkansas.

Belmont was picked to finish fourth among A-Sun competition in a preseason poll of the media.

Mercer has not won in five all-time games at the Curb Event Center, has not has never beaten Belmont on the road.

GAME NOTES

Briana Williams ranks tied for ninth among Division I freshman in scoring average, according to the most recent NCAA statistical report (Nov. 28). Williams' average of 15.8 ppg is tied with Alyssa Baron of Penn and Courtney Lindfors of Milwaukee.

Mercer is the only A-Sun school to have a pair of freshmen leading the team in scoring. Freshmen Briana Williams and Brittnee Hazel have emerged as top two scorers for the Bears in 2010-11.

Thursday's matchup in Nashville marks a homecoming for head coach Susie Gardner.  Gardner is a native of Mount Juliet, Tenn., just 25 minutes outside the city of Nashville.