Friday, December 04, 2009

MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Game of the Week features a meeting starring the three Player of the Week winners from 2009-10, as Mercer and two-time recipient Courtney Ford hosts the Belmont duo of Haley Nelson and Amber Rockwell at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday from the University Center. The game airs on A-Sun.TV.

Ford earned her second consecutive Player of the Week award on Monday by filling up the stat sheet, netting 26 points, and grabbing 17 rebounds while adding six steals and four assists against Furman, one game after netting a triple double and falling one steal shy of a quadruple double at Charleston Southern (Nov. 21). Two weeks ago, Ford shared the honor with Nelson when the sophomore forward helped Belmont to its first 3-0 start since the 2005-06 season, by nearly averaging 20 points and 20 rebounds for the Bruins while shooting a blistering 63 percent from the floor against UT Martin and Alabama and collecting eight blocks. Rockwell earned the season’s first Player of the Week honor after the senior guard scored a career-high 33 points in a Bruin victory against Central Arkansas.

Mercer senior LaToya Jackson, a preseason All-Atlantic Sun selection, scorched the Bruins in two meetings last season, headlined by a career-high 31-point effort at Belmont, in which the senior guard scored 23 points in the second half and shot 6-of-9 from three-point range. Belmont owns a 5-3 series advantage with Mercer since 2005 and the two teams split last year with each team winning on the road. When the Bruins and Bears met last on February 21, the Bears pulled out a 70-61 triumph as Jackson and Ford finished in double-figures with 17 and 14 points, respectively, while Rockwell led Belmont in scoring with 16 points, nine coming from three-point range.

In Belmont’s last action, the Bruins defeated the Kennesaw State Owls for their first A-Sun win of the season. Senior Kristin Bunch led Belmont with a career-high 24 points, helping the Bruins to a 5-1 overall mark and 1-0 tally in conference play. Rockwell also added 11 on the night while Nelson and sophomore Tristan Daniel each contributed eight points. Nelson also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Belmont shot 40 percent (22-55) from the hardwood, 80.8 percent (21-26) from the charity stripe, and 23.1 percent (3-13) from behind the three-point arc. The Bruins dominated in rebounds, pulling down a season-high 51 to KSU’s 37, and held the advantage in assists, 11-5.

Mercer enters the weekend after winning its Atlantic Sun Conference opener against visiting Lipscomb on Thursday evening at the University Center. Jackson paced the Bears, scoring a team-high 17 points on the way to the 65-59 victory, while Ford registered her fourth double-double in five contests, pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with 14 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Mercer shot 42.1 percent (24-57) from the hardwood, 85 percent (17-20) from the charity stripe, and 25 percent (4-16) from behind the three-point arc.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Players to Watch
* Haley Nelson, Belmont – Nelson contributed eight points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds at Kennesaw State and led Belmont's rebounding effort with seven boards figures in the consolation game of the Northern Arizona Thanksgiving Classic to defeat first-time opponent Siena.

* Amber Rockwell, Belmont – Rockwell added 11 points against Kennesaw State and reached double figures in the consolation game of the NAU Thanksgiving Classic with a game-high 18 points.

* Kristin Bunch, Belmont – Bunch opened A-Sun Conference play leading the Bruins with a career-high 24 points at Kennesaw State on Thursday night and reached double figures in the consolation game of the Northern Arizona Thanksgiving Classic to defeat first-time opponent Siena with 15.

* Courtney Ford, Mercer – Ford, the two-time reigning Player of the Week registered her fourth double-double in five contests with 11 rebounds and 14 points on 7-for-13 shooting against Lipscomb Thursday evening. Ford also led all scorers with 26 points, pulling down a career-high 17 rebounds and contributing six steals and four assists to the win at Furman on Saturday.

* Latoya Jackson, Mercer – Jackson paced the Bears, scoring a team-high 17 points against Lipscomb Thursday evening. At Furman on Saturday, Jackson scored all 17 of her points in the second half and dished out four assists and a steal in 29 minutes played.