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 Dec. 24 to Jan. 6 after averaging 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest. The award is selected by the league office.
 
The forward scored 22 points and pulled down six rebounds in an overtime loss to Jacksonville on Dec. 29. She added five assists, two blocks and two steals against the Dolphins. Dougherty kicked off 2020 with a game-high and career-high 26 points at Yale on Jan. 2 and added 10 rebounds to notch her team-leading fifth double-double of the season. The Buford, Georgia, native concluded the week with a team-high 13 points, six rebounds and three steals at Columbia on Jan. 4.
 
Dougherty is fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game, and is also in the top 10 in rebounding, field goal percentage, steals and blocks.
 
Mercer (3-12) begins Southern Conference play with three straight road games, beginning at Furman on Thursday, Jan. 9, before traveling to Wofford on Saturday, Jan. 11.
 
Also nominated: Tierra Hodges (Furman), Te’ja Twitty (UNC Greensboro), Sarah Myers (Samford) and Tembre Moates (Western Carolina).
 
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