Women’s Basketball Returns Home against UNF

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s basketball team returns to Atlantic Sun action Saturday, hosting North Florida in the University Center at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Mercer’s matchup with UNF marks a rematch of last year’s first-round A-Sun tournament game between the then No. 2 seeded Bears and the No. 7 seeded Lady Ospreys.  In that game, UNF limited Mercer to just 25% shooting from the field en route to the 55-40 upset victory.

In order to gain revenge, Mercer will have to knock off this year’s UNF squad that enters on a three-game winning streak.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

UNF returns three starters from last year’s team that finished 12-20 (7-13 A-Sun).  Currently, the team is 5-11 (3-4 A-Sun) after topping ETSU 65-62 on January 17.

Junior guard Brittany Kirkland averaged 13.7 points per game in three meetings with Mercer last season, including a 25 point output in the first round of the A-Sun tournament.

Kirkland garnered preseason All-Conference honors after scoring an average of 14.5 points per game last season.  UNF was picked to finish fourth among A-Sun competition in a the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.

GAME NOTES

At FGCU, sophomore Alex Phillips recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Phillips’ 16 points was a career high and her effort was Mercer’s third double-double of the season.  After Mercer went its first 12 games without a player notching a double-double, the Bears have seen a player accomplish the feat in three of their last four games.

After a three-game road swing, the Bears return to the University Center this week to face UNF and Jacksonville.  Mercer relishes an opportunity to play in front of its home crowd, as the Bears have averaged 64 points per game at home in comparison to just 53.9 points per game on the road.

Macon native Kendra Grant has missed Mercer’s last two games due to injury, but if she can suit up for Mercer’s home games this week it is likely she will be a difference maker.  This season, Grant averages 13.6 points per game at the University Center in contrast with just 6.3 points per game on the road.