Sunday, January 31, 2010

MACON, Ga. – The A-Sun / CSS broadcast returns to Macon, Ga. for a second time as Mercer welcomes FGCU at 6:30 p.m. on Monday to the University Center. The game also airs on A-Sun.TV.

The Bears and Eagles last met on Saturday, Jan. 23 with the Eagles claiming an 84-77 victory. Mercer jumped on FGCU, opening the game on a 20-4 run, and building up its lead in the first half to as wide as 28 points. The Orange and Black ral¬lied furiously in the second half, cutting the margin to four with 1:11 remaining. Adrianne McNally scored a game-high 18 points, in addition to seven assists and six rebounds, while Shannon Murphy added 17 points and a game-high nine assists off of the bench. For Mercer, Neicey Lewis scored a career-high 22 points, and Lacy Ramon tallied 20 points, her second straight 20-point performance. Ramon has provided steady contribution in league play, averaging 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the floor. In non-conference play, the Norman, Okla. native tallied 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, on 42.0 percent shooting.

On the season, McNally paces the Eagles with 13.4 points per game and ranks second overall in field goal percentage with a 52.3 rate from the floor. A-Sun Player of the Week Shannon Murphy averages 12.6 points, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Courtney Ford paces the Bears, as the Orange, Calif. native averages 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.4 steals, good enough to rank in the top five in all four categories. The meeting boasts a showdown between FGCU, the league’s top shooting team in A-Sun play (44.0 percent) and Mercer, owner of one of the league’s lowest opponent’s shooting percentages, 34.5 percent. FGCU leads the all-time series, 5-0.

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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.