Tuesday, November 13, 2007

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears opened their 2007-08 season with a pair of victories last week, and sophomore LaToya Jackson filled up the box score on both occasions. The Bears won their first two contests for the first time since 2001, and Jackson was rewarded for her contributions with the first Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honor of the season the conference office announced Tuesday.

After struggling through a five-win season a year ago, the Bears brought in a new coach and a wealth of new players for the 2007-08 campaign; Jackson was among the newcomers. In her first two games with Mercer, the Oklahoma City native tallied 26 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds and four steals. Her 16-point, eight assist effort paced the Bears victory over Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday afternoon. The Communications major scored seven of the Bears’ first 18 points on the day, staking Mercer to an eight-point first half lead. Two days earlier, her two free throws with 15 seconds left clinched the Bears’ season-opening victory over South Carolina State.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers:

Siarre Evans, ETSU (So. – G- Griffin, Ga. – Sport Management) – Recorded her ninth career double-double in Friday’s 90-73 loss to Western Kentucky in the first round of the Preseason WNIT.

Marlena Murphy, Campbell (Sr. – F – Fayetteville, N.C. – Psychology) – Led Campbell with a 24 point, nine rebound performance vs. Elon, taking game MVP honors.

Brooke Sunday, Belmont (Sr. – P – Sparta, Tenn. – Social Work) – Picked up her first double-double of the season against UTSA with 19 points and 10 rebounds.