Briana Williams Named A-Sun Player of the Week

MACON, Ga. – After smashing a bevy of single-game scoring records last week, Mercer sophomore Briana Williams has been named the Atlantic Sun Women’s Basketball Player of the Week in an announcement made by the conference office Tuesday.

Williams’ third career selection comes on the heels of a week in which she scored 70 points in two conference games.  After collecting 16 points in Mercer’s game against ETSU on Thursday, she set the A-Sun single-game scoring record with a 54-point outing against USC Upstate.

The league’s scoring record was held by former Mercer great, Andrea Congreaves, who set a 51-point mark twice during the 1991-92 season.  Congreaves scored 51 points against Florida A&M on both January 11, 1992 and February 5, 1992.

Congreaves had held a share of Mercer’s program record with Cindy Brogdon, who was the first Mercer player to reach 51 on December 17, 1976.

Williams’ feat established the highest scoring total for any Division I player this season, beating out Miami (OH) Courtney Osborn’s 48 point showing against Akron on January 4, 2012.  She also finished just six points shy of the all-time NCAA Division I record, set by Cindy Brown of Long Beach State on February 16, 1987.

Her 54 points also is the highest single-game output for a men's or women's player in the University Center's eight-year history.  Williams broke her own UC record of 41 points, set in an 80-78 overtime loss to Jacksonville on January 24, 2011.  James Florence owns the men's record of 39 points - set versus Jacksonville on Feb. 16, 2007.

Williams finished the game 16-of-25 from the field and 17-of-21 from the free throw line.  Her 17 free throws also broke a Mercer record of 16 held by Congreaves and Laura Sharp.  Congreaves had 16 free throws on January 3, 1993 and Sharp had 16 free throws on December 1, 1984.

Williams outscored 71 teams across the nation who also played on Saturday and single-handledly outscored USC Upstate 27-25 in the first half.

Her effort helped Mercer ultimately top USC Upstate 87-71.  On Thursday, her team-high 16 points weren’t enough to stop ETSU from prevailing 75-59.

On the week, Williams averaged 35.0 points per game while also collecting 10 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and a block.

The Bears return to conference play on the road against in-state rival, Kennesaw State on February 11.  Game time at the KSU Convocation center is scheduled for 5 p.m.