Women’s Basketball to Host A-Sun Leaders on Saturday

Game Notes

MACON, Ga.  – Fresh off an 82-76 defeat of Kennesaw State Thursday night, the Mercer women’s basketball team returns to the hardwood Saturday against Florida Gulf Coast.  Game time at the University Center is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Mercer’s win over Kennesaw State snapped a 16-game losing skid and gave head coach Susie Gardner her first win at the University Center.  On Saturday, Gardner’s squad meets the Atlantic Sun leading Eagles with intentions of the season’s first winning streak.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Florida Gulf Coast enters Macon with a five-game win streak after topping ETSU, 81-65 on Feb. 7. The Eagles’ lone defeat of the season came at the hands of Stetson on Jan. 20.

FGCU returns two starters from last year’s team that finished 24-7 (17-3 A-Sun). The Eagles were picked to finish first among A-Sun teams in a preseason poll of the league’s media and coaches.

Senior guard Shannon Murphy was named to the A-Sun preseason All-Conference team after averaging 10.7 points per game last season. This season,  Sarah Hansen leads the team at 13.2 points per game.

GAME NOTES

Mercer’s win over Kennesaw State on Thursday night snapped a 16-game slide for the Bears. In the contest, Mercer set season highs in points (82), field goals made (32), field goals attempted (73), rebounds (49) and blocked shots (10).

In Mercer’s win over Kennesaw State, four players (Williams, Phillips, Hazel, Smith) reached double

figures in the scoring column. The game marked the first time this season Mercer has had four players reach double figures.

Mercer’s OT win against Kennesaw State was the team’s first overtime win since March 9, 2006, when the Bears topped ETSU 59-56 in extra time. The win erased a three-game OT losing streak for the program and was the first OT win for each member of the roster.

 As a team, Mercer averages just 15.6 personal fouls per game. Mercer ranks 65th in the country in fouls per game and only one player has fouled out multiple times (Sharmesia Smith - 2 times).