Mercer Hits the Road to Take on Belmont on Monday

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – After a successful season opener at home, the Mercer women’s basketball team tries its luck on the road when it travels to Nashville to take on Belmont on Monday night at the Curb Event Center at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Monday night’s game marks the first of three trips the Bears will make to the Music City in 2013-14, as they are scheduled to take part in the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament later this month and play A-Sun foe Lipscomb on January 11.

Belmont leads the all-time series over Mercer 13-11, but the Bears have gotten the better of the Bruins of late, winning three out of the last four meetings between the two schools.

Scouting the Opposition

Belmont enters play on Monday night 0-1 in the 2013-14 campaign after dropping an 80-58 decision at IUPUI on Nov. 9. The Bruins went 18-14 in their inaugural season in the Ohio Valley Conference and finished last season with a loss in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Belmont was picked to finish third in the OVC Preseason Coaches’ poll under first-year head coach Cameron Newbauer. Junior Jordyn Luffman was named to the All-OVC Preseason Team after averaging 8.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season.

Last Time Out

MACON, Ga. – Junior Precious Bridges led four players in double figures to help the Mercer women’s basketball team collect a 67-64 season opening win over Western Carolina on Friday evening at Hawkins Arena.

Bridges netted all 17 of her points in the second half, including five of Mercer’s final eight points in the contest to secure the win.

Junior Briana Williams tallied 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field to join Bridges, junior Alicia Williams (15 points) and senior Kendra Grant (13 points) as Mercer’s four double-digit scorers in the win.

Game Notes

– Two Bears set new career-highs in Mercer’s season opening win over Western Carolina. Senior Sharnea Boykin narrowly missed out on her first career double-double, recording 10 assists and a career-best nine rebounds. Junior Alicia Williams also set new career-highs with 11 free throws made and 12 free throws attempted in the win.

– Mercer had four players score in double figures in its win over Western Carolina. The Bears were a perfect 3-0 when they sported four double-digit scorers in the same game last season.