Mercer again dominates Southern Conference women's hoops honors, including Mary Persons grad KeKe Calloway

Different season, same results, sort of.

          Mercer yet again rolled through Southern Conference women’s basketball play, and Mercer yet again took a batch of Southern Conference honors.

          Susie Gardner is the league’s top coach for the second straight year and third time in four years. She’s the first repeat coach winner since Appalachian State’s Darcie Vincent 2009-2011.

          Bears are players of the year for the fifth straight year, with Mary Persons grad KeKe Calloway getting the honor from the conference media and Amanda Thompson from the SoCon coaches.

          They made both all-conference first teams, and Shannon Titus was a consensus second-team selection while making the coaches’ all-defensive team.

          Thompson enters the conference tournament averaging 14.6 points and 12 rebounds. Calloway leads Mercer with 16.8 points while assuming most point guard duties.

          Calloway made the all-freshman team in 2016, plus two all-tournament teams. She has twice been a preseason all-conference selection, and once an all-academic pick.

Thompson also earned the Ann Lashley Inspiration Award.

          Titus has been in double figures in 12 of 14 conference games, and had 23 blocks in SoCon games.

          The top-seeded Bears play Western Carolina at 11 a.m. on Thursday to open the tournament.