Kahlia Lawrence, Mercer looking for 3-0 Southern Conference start

Kahlia Lawrence performed well during Mercer's non-conference schedule, but she really has picked up her play during the Bears' first two Southern Conference games.

And even Lawrence can't explain it.

She has averaged 32 points per game in the Bears' 2-0 start in conference play, scoring 36 points against UNC Greensboro and 26 against Western Carolina.

Mercer (12-5 overall) won both of those games in overtime and heads to Samford on Saturday.

"I'm not really sure, I think maybe subconsciously I just kind of knew conference was starting, and I had to step my game up," Lawrence said. "We've been playing well as a team this year, and I've been playing well myself. In the back of my mind, I knew I had to step my game up.

"I took the first couple of shots, and they went in, and I think I just got on a roll. I had a little feel going, and the ball just kept going in for me."

Lawrence is averaging 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. She is shooting 43.9 percent from the floor, 25.6 on 3-pointers and 68.4 percent on free throws.

The sophomore has seven 20-point games and has reached double digits in 14 of Mercer's 17 games. She ranks second in the conference in scoring and is in the top five in field goal percentage and assists.

"Kahlia has just been amazing the first two games. I was concerned the Western Carolina game because we went into overtime versus UNC Greensboro, and she was so exhausted, but she just has a knack to dig deep," Mercer head coach Susie Gardner said. "Obviously, she scored a bunch of points for us, and that's the thing that jumps out at everybody, but she also took a huge charge at the end of the Western Carolina game that was very, very timely.

"She's playing some really good basketball right now."

Mercer has followed Lawrence's lead and has played well throughout this season and has won six straight games. The Bears get another tough test Saturday against Samford, which is 10-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

"It's always great, first of all to get the win, on the road and in two crucial overtimes," Lawrence said. "Conference play just started. Those were our first two games, and they were really big games, and I think the team responded really well to the adversity we faced.

"It would be big (to beat Samford). Our whole season has been pretty big. We've been playing well. To come out and start conference play 3-0 would be a great achievement."

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Kahlia Lawrence, Mercer looking for 3-0 Southern Conference start ."