'Cats Open Home Slate vs. Mercer on Monday Evening

Game Notes: #2 vs. Mercer
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DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Davidson women's basketball team begins its home slate of games for the 2011-12 season on Monday evening when they play host to Mercer at John M. Belk Arena.

The Opening Tip
Davidson (0-1) seek to win its fifth home-opener in the last six years when the Wildcats welcome the Mercer Bears (0-1) of the Atlantic Sun on Monday evening, with gametime set for 6 p.m.

It's part of a doubleheader on Monday night with the men's team, who will host Richmond following the women's game.

The All-Time Series/Last Meeting ...
... is just one game old, with the Wildcats capturing the inaugural series-opener, 70-50, on Nov. 29, 1996. The two teams played each other at the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational, hosted by Colorado State.

Home Sweet Home
Davidson looks to started its quest for yet another winning season at John M. Belk Arena when it hosts Mercer.

The Wildcats look to continue their strong play at home since the opening of Belk Arena in 1992-93. The Wildcats have gone 136-86 during that time span, but more recently have fashioned a 42-18 record the last five years. Last year saw the 'Cats go 8-5 at John M. Belk Arena, making it 10 straight seasons with a winning mark.

The 'Cats have matched the school record twice with 10 home wins over the last five years with the 2006-07 and 2007-08 squad finishing with back-to-back 10-2 marks to tie the 1997-98 and 1998-99 squads for most home wins in a single season.

Scouting the Wildcats
•Davidson started its 2011-12 season with a 72-62 defeat at Clemson last Friday.
•It marked the third time in the last seven years the 'Cats have opened against an ACC opponent, having also played at Georgia Tech and North Carolina in that span.
•The 'Cats led early (13-9, 21-19, 23-22), but Clemson used a 31-10 run through the end of the first half and into the second half to open up a 20-point lead and earn the win.
•Laura Murray (21) and Sophia Aleksandravicius (20) each hit the 20-point mark.
•It was Murray's 20th career double figure game, while Aleksandravicius' had her 45th.
•Barbara Sitton had a game-high four steals to go with six points and two assists. She is just one assist away from 200 for her career.
•Aleksandravicius, the SoCon preseason Player of the Year pick, had nine rebounds on Friday and needs just three more to move into 10th all-time in Wildcat history.
•Last year saw Davidson open its home slate of games with a 69-47 win over William & Mary, the program's first in the all-time series.
•The 'Cats were 8-5 at home, the 10th straight season it has tallied a winning mark.
•Over the last five years, they are 42-18 at John M. Belk Arena.
•Last year's home season-finale vs. Wofford saw Davidson drop in 88 points, the most scored by they Wildcats since it scored 90 at home vs. Wofford on Dec. 13, 2009.
•The 'Cats were picked fifth in this year's SoCon preseason poll as four of the five starters return and nine letterwinners in all return.
•Head coach Michele Savage enters her second year at Davidson (14-18, 8-12 SoCon).
•Davidson and Mercer have faced each other just once. It came back on Nov. 29, 1996 when the Wildcats and Bears squared off at the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational, hosted by Colorado State.
•The Wildcats took home the series opener, 70-50, before falling to host CSU in the finals.

Scouting the Bears
•Mercer opened its season at home vs. Auburn last Friday, falling 77-43 as the Bears have dropped their last four straight openers.
•Friday night's attendance of 2,728 smashed the previous record for a home Bears' women's basketball contest, which was 1,467 vs. North Florida last season.
•Briana Williams and freshman Alicia Williams both scored nine points in the losing effort.
•Williams was the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year last season when she averaged 18 points a game. She was also a second-team all-league pick.
•Mercer returns all five starters and six letterwinners in all from last season's 2-27 squad.
•The Bears were picked to finish eighth in the coaches preseason poll.
•Head coach Susie Gardner is entering her second year at Mercer and owns a career coaching mark of 178-175 in 13 years.
•A year ago, the Bears went just 1-13 on the road.
•Mercer has four common opponents this year on their schedule with the Wildcats, playing Georgia Southern, Wake Forest, High Point and Winthrop.

A Look Ahead
The 'Cats head back on the road with a 7 p.m. contest at High Point, Nov. 18.

Schedule

'Cats Open Home Slate vs. Mercer on Monday Evening

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