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. 8-14 after averaging a double-double in a pair of games. The award is selected by the league office.

Dougherty, a junior, began the week by scoring 22 points and pulling down eight rebounds in a 71-68 overtime win at UAB. She added one assist, one block and one steal in 35 minutes on the floor, shooting 50 percent from the field (9-for-18) and 80 percent from the free-throw line (4-for-5) in the Bears’ first road win of the season.

The native of Buford, Georgia, recorded her third double-double of the season three days later in a 78-61 loss to Alabama. Dougherty, a preseason all-conference selection, scored 20-plus for the second consecutive game, scoring 20 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. She added a pair of assists and a pair of steals in the loss.

For the week, she shot 45.0 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and 80 percent from the free-throw line. The forward is averaging a double-double on the year with 16.2 points, third in the league, and 10.7 rebounds, second amongst league players, per contest, and is seventh in the NCAA in total rebounds (64).

Mercer remains at home for its next matchup, hosting South Carolina State on Tuesday evening before hitting the road to take on Western Kentucky and Tennessee Tech on Dec. 18 and Dec. 21, respectively.

Also nominated: Tierra Hodges (Furman), CeCe Crudup (UNCG), Andrea Cournoyer (Samford), Abbey Cornelius (Chattanooga) and Zanoria Cruz (Western Carolina).

2020-21 SoCon Women’s Basketball Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Dec. 1 – Shauntai Battle, Sr., G/F, Samford
Dec. 8 – Tate Walters, Fr., G, Furman
Dec. 15 – Jaron Dougherty, Jr., F, Mercer