SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer’s Jaron Dougherty has been named the Southern Conference women’s basketball player of the week presented by GEICO for games played Jan. 21-27. The award is selected by the league office.
 
The sophomore forward recorded a pair of 20-point games as Mercer fell 72-66 to ETSU on Jan. 23 and downed Chattanooga, 55-48, two days later. Against the Bucs, the native of Buford, Georgia, scored a game-high 23 points. Additionally, she pulled down five rebounds and finished with three blocks and two steals. Two days later, Dougherty scored a game-high and career-high 29 points against Chattanooga as the Bears snapped a 10-game losing streak and Mercer picked up its first win in SoCon play. She finished 13-for-21 from the floor (61.9 percent), pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds, and added four blocks and two steals. Dougherty played all 40 minutes in each contest.
 
In league play, Dougherty is second amongst conference players, averaging 19.4 points per game.
 
After two home games, Mercer (4-16, 1-4 SoCon) hits the road, playing at UNC Greensboro (15-5, 4-1) on Thursday, Jan 30, and at Western Carolina (3-17, 0-5) on Saturday, Feb. 1.
 
Also nominated: Micah Scheetz (ETSU), Le’Jzae Davidson (Furman), Natalie Armstrong (Samford), Lauren LaPlant (Western Carolina) and Cairo Booker (Wofford).
 
SoCon Women’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Nov. 12 – Erica Haynes-Overton, Jr., G, ETSU
Nov. 19 – Jewel Smalls, So., G, Western Carolina
Nov. 26 – Nadine Soliman, Sr., G, UNCG
Dec. 3 – Jewel Smalls, So., G, Western Carolina
Dec. 10 – Tierra Hodges, R-Jr., G/F, Furman
Dec. 17 – Nadine Soliman, Sr., G, UNCG
Dec. 24 – Le’Jzae Davidson, Sr., G, Furman
Jan. 7 – Jaron Dougherty, So., F, Mercer
Jan. 14 – Tierra Hodges, R-Jr., G/F, Furman
Jan. 21 – Natalie Armstrong, Jr., C, Samford
Jan. 28 – Jaron Dougherty, So., F, Mercer