Tuesday, December 19
Macon, Ga.
7 P.M.
Mercer University
10-2
74
vs
53
South Carolina State
4-5
1
2
3
4
F
South Carolina State
14
12
12
15
53
Mercer
17
19
20
18
74
Team Stats
SCSUW
MER
FG%
.388
.394
3FG%
.417
.400
FT%
.588
.545
RB
39
40
TO
15
5
STL
2
6
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
9
3FGM
7
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballBears Overshadow Lady Bulldogs in Gardner’s 300th Victory
12/19/2017 10:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Gardner notches win 300 and Calloway nets career-high 26 points
MACON, Ga. – KeKe Calloway connected for a career-high 26 points on a night full of excitement as Head Coach Susie Gardner notched career win No. 300 after Mercer defeated South Carolina State by the final score of 74-53. With the win, the Bears improve to 10-2 for the first time since the 1979-80 season when Mercer began the campaign with a 14-2 record. Prior to the game, Sydni Means was honored with a game ball, commemorating her 500th career assist on Sunday against Winthrop.
Stat of the Game
Mercer knocked down 12 triples in tonight's contest, eclipsing 10 three pointers made for the first time since netting 10 against Faulkner on Dec. 13, 2015. Calloway was responsible for seven of the 12 threes, including six in the second half en route to a career night.
Player of the Game
Calloway garnered player of the game recognition for netting 26 points, besting her previous career high of 25 against Chattanooga on March 1, 2017. Calloway finished the game with seven threes, tying her career high in three pointers made for the second time this season. Calloway finished 9-of-18 from the field, while also pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.
How It Happened
The Bears began the game with an 8-5 advantage through the first 2:37 of the opening quarter. However, Mercer went through a cold spell over the next 5:19 of play until Rachel Selph buried a jumper to pull the Bears to within two. Mercer ended the quarter on a 7-2 run to take the 17-14 advantage, knocking down each of its final three shots.
The Lady Bulldogs began the second quarter on a 7-1 run to take the 21-18 advantage following seven points from Bryeasha Blair. Mercer responded with a 13-2 run of its own, including seven points from Means to take the 31-23 advantage with 3:05 left in the first half. The Bears stretched their lead to double digits by halftime following an and-one finish from Kahlia Lawrence at the buzzer, giving Mercer the 36-26 lead.
The two squads went back-and-forth for the first half of the third quarter, however the Lady Bulldogs were unable to close the gap to within seven. Means' coast-to-coast finish with 6:02 left in the quarter provided Mercer with the double-digit lead for good, 44-34. The Bears ended the quarter on a 12-4 run to take the 18-point advantage into the final stanza.
The fourth quarter proved to be all Calloway as the junior guard buried 14 of Mercer's 18 points in the final quarter of play. Calloway nearly outscored South Carolina State as the Lady Bulldogs were held to 15 points in the fourth quarter. Mercer ran its lead up to a game-high 25 points before South Carolina State trimmed the deficit to 21.
Notables
» Mercer improves to 3-0 all-time against South Carolina State, including 2-0 in Macon, Ga.
» With the win, Head Coach Susie Gardner picked up career win No. 300.
» Kahlia Lawrence passed Sybil Blalock in career points and now has 1,863 points. Lawrence is five points shy of Myrel Huskey for fifth all-time in program history.
» Lawrence picked up her second double-double in three games, finishing with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.
» Sydni Means notched a season-high 17 points, while also knocking down a career-best three triples.
» Calloway now has 50 points in the last two home games and has moved into fifth all-time in program history for career three pointers made with 157.
» The Bears won the rebounding battle for the fourth time in five games, outrebounding the Lady Bulldogs 40-39.
Coach's Corner
On using a smaller lineup
"We have some versatile players, such as Kayla Potts and Alex Williams. She [Potts] can play the three or the four position and Alex can guard any position on the floor. We went with what we thought was our best man-to-man defensive unit."
On Kahlia's ability to grab rebounds
"Lately Kahlia has played with a purpose on the boards. She is too strong and too athletic to grab just two or three rebounds a game. The last few games she has made an effort to go to the glass. When you have a rebounding guard, it is something special. She can be the best rebounding guard on our team by far."
On KeKe's career performance
"I was concerned about our inability to score in the first quarter. I was hoping KeKe or Linnea or both would get hot. KeKe has grown as a player and she is able to bounce back from a tough start like she did tonight."
Records Update
» Mercer: 10-2
» South Carolina State: 4-5
Next Game
» Mercer: Hosts Howard on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Ga.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Stat of the Game
Mercer knocked down 12 triples in tonight's contest, eclipsing 10 three pointers made for the first time since netting 10 against Faulkner on Dec. 13, 2015. Calloway was responsible for seven of the 12 threes, including six in the second half en route to a career night.
Player of the Game
Calloway garnered player of the game recognition for netting 26 points, besting her previous career high of 25 against Chattanooga on March 1, 2017. Calloway finished the game with seven threes, tying her career high in three pointers made for the second time this season. Calloway finished 9-of-18 from the field, while also pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.
How It Happened
The Bears began the game with an 8-5 advantage through the first 2:37 of the opening quarter. However, Mercer went through a cold spell over the next 5:19 of play until Rachel Selph buried a jumper to pull the Bears to within two. Mercer ended the quarter on a 7-2 run to take the 17-14 advantage, knocking down each of its final three shots.
The Lady Bulldogs began the second quarter on a 7-1 run to take the 21-18 advantage following seven points from Bryeasha Blair. Mercer responded with a 13-2 run of its own, including seven points from Means to take the 31-23 advantage with 3:05 left in the first half. The Bears stretched their lead to double digits by halftime following an and-one finish from Kahlia Lawrence at the buzzer, giving Mercer the 36-26 lead.
The two squads went back-and-forth for the first half of the third quarter, however the Lady Bulldogs were unable to close the gap to within seven. Means' coast-to-coast finish with 6:02 left in the quarter provided Mercer with the double-digit lead for good, 44-34. The Bears ended the quarter on a 12-4 run to take the 18-point advantage into the final stanza.
The fourth quarter proved to be all Calloway as the junior guard buried 14 of Mercer's 18 points in the final quarter of play. Calloway nearly outscored South Carolina State as the Lady Bulldogs were held to 15 points in the fourth quarter. Mercer ran its lead up to a game-high 25 points before South Carolina State trimmed the deficit to 21.
Notables
» Mercer improves to 3-0 all-time against South Carolina State, including 2-0 in Macon, Ga.
» With the win, Head Coach Susie Gardner picked up career win No. 300.
» Kahlia Lawrence passed Sybil Blalock in career points and now has 1,863 points. Lawrence is five points shy of Myrel Huskey for fifth all-time in program history.
» Lawrence picked up her second double-double in three games, finishing with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.
» Sydni Means notched a season-high 17 points, while also knocking down a career-best three triples.
» Calloway now has 50 points in the last two home games and has moved into fifth all-time in program history for career three pointers made with 157.
» The Bears won the rebounding battle for the fourth time in five games, outrebounding the Lady Bulldogs 40-39.
Coach's Corner
On using a smaller lineup
"We have some versatile players, such as Kayla Potts and Alex Williams. She [Potts] can play the three or the four position and Alex can guard any position on the floor. We went with what we thought was our best man-to-man defensive unit."
On Kahlia's ability to grab rebounds
"Lately Kahlia has played with a purpose on the boards. She is too strong and too athletic to grab just two or three rebounds a game. The last few games she has made an effort to go to the glass. When you have a rebounding guard, it is something special. She can be the best rebounding guard on our team by far."
On KeKe's career performance
"I was concerned about our inability to score in the first quarter. I was hoping KeKe or Linnea or both would get hot. KeKe has grown as a player and she is able to bounce back from a tough start like she did tonight."
Records Update
» Mercer: 10-2
» South Carolina State: 4-5
Next Game
» Mercer: Hosts Howard on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Ga.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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