Mercer Women’s Basketball team hosted a “Tipoff Picnic” on Oct. 17 to let fans get introduced to the players before this upcoming season. 

The event took place at Morgan View Farm, which is located thirty minutes from campus. The venue was outdoors and the tickets cost $35 for each person. This ticket covered food and the overall experience of meeting the team.

This event is the first of its kind in which the main goal isn’t fundraising.

“This is just an event for people to meet our team and socialize,” said assistant coach and event contact Sydni Means. “We have been blessed and fortunate to have the same group for the past three years.”

The team made it to the NCAA playoffs last season but lost key players such as Amanda Thompson and Keke Calloway. 

Chance Allen
Guests get food at the Women’s Basketball Picnic.

“We really do have a whole new team this year,” Means said. “We just want to make sure people know our program and we are really excited about the upcoming year.”

This year’s team has no seniors and only one junior. The event highlighted each individual player and the coaching staff. 

Shannon Titus will return this season and shows promising results on the court. She started in 32 of the 33 games last year and averaged 12 points per game.

“We do have a young team and so that means we are getting better every day,” Means said. “Obviously we are not where we want to be yet, but I am happy about where we are going.” 

Susie Gardner was named the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year and the Georgia Women’s Coach of the Year after last season. She will also be returning to coach this season. 

Even with promising players and coaching, how they will perform this season is still up to debate. The first home game is set for Nov. 5 against LaGrange College.