Saturday, January 20
Macon, Ga.
2 P.M.
Mercer University
18-2, 5-0
72
vs
50
Western Carolina
3-17, 0-6
1
2
3
4
F
Western Carolina
6
16
15
13
50
Mercer
21
19
13
19
72
Team Stats
WCU
MER
FG%
.367
.435
3FG%
.250
.333
FT%
.500
.867
RB
42
33
TO
21
6
STL
2
11
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballPhoto by: Judy Stapleton
Bears Remain Unscathed in SoCon Play
1/20/2018 4:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KeKe Calloway becomes 26th player in Mercer history to reach 1,000 career points
MACON, Ga. – Mercer remained undefeated in Southern Conference action after besting Western Carolina by the final score of 72-50 on Saturday afternoon inside Hawkins Arena. With the win, the Bears improve to 18-2 and 5-0 in conference play, running their win streak to 15 games.
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Stat of the Game
The Bears proved once again that defense is critical in winning games, forcing 21 Catamount turnovers. Mercer's offense only surrendered the ball on six occasions, while turning 21 Western Carolina turnovers into 24 Mercer points.
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Player of the Game
KeKe Calloway stole the show for Mercer, scoring 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-12 from downtown. Calloway's first triple of the game lifted her into Mercer history, becoming just the 26th player to score 1,000 career points.
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How It Happened
Mercer set the pace and momentum early in the first quarter, concluding the quarter with a 15-point advantage. The Catamounts scored on their opening possession with a layup from Julia Brown, claiming the early 2-0 lead. The Bears responded with a 21-4 run over the final nine minutes of the quarter, led by Calloway's 10 points.
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Western Carolina claimed the first four minutes of the second quarter, outscoring Mercer by six to cut its deficit to nine points with 5:50 to play in the half. The Bears responded with yet another run over the final 5:30 of the opening half, outscoring Western Carolina 13-4 for the 18-point lead at the intermission.
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The Catamounts outscored the Bears 15-13 in the third stanza, despite Mercer stretching its lead to 20 points. Western Carolina ended the frame on a 4-0 run to cut the Mercer lead to 16 points heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
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The Bears would not yield in the final quarter, stretching their lead further for a 23-point advantage with 3:39 to play following back-to-back free throws by Kahlia Lawrence. Shannon Titus's jumper put the icing on the cake with 1:05 to play, solidifying Mercer's 22-point victory.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 11-0 all-time against Western Carolina, including 8-0 under the direction of Head Coach Susie Gardner.
» Calloway ended the game with 23 points, joining 25 former Bears to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
» The Bears improve to 18-2, winning their 15th consecutive game to set the program record for most wins in the NCAA Division I era.
» Mercer has now won 13 consecutive games by double-digits, dating back to a 15-point win over Davidson on Dec. 3.
» Mercer forced 21 turnovers from Western Carolina, turning the blunders into 24 points on the offensive end.
» Sydni Means finished the game with seven points, 13 assists, four steals and just one turnover.
» Rachel Selph notched a season-high 15 points, tying her career-high set on Feb. 4, 2017 at ETSU.
» Gardner collected win No. 132 at Mercer and is just two wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.
» Mercer is now 8-1 in contests played inside Hawkins Arena this season.
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Coach's Corner
Opening Statement
"I'm pleased with our win today, though I felt that our defense wasn't our best. We got off to a great start in the first quarter, but after that we didn't play our best game. I am really proud of KeKe on scoring her 1,000th point. It's a win and it feels good to win."
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On the defensive focus this upcoming week
"You look at the score and you see they only scored 50 points. It wasn't so much the points they scored, but how they scored it. We have to move forward and prepare for the next opponent. We have to keep people fresh heading into the next set of games."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 18-2 (5-0 SoCon)
» Western Carolina: 3-17 (0-6 SoCon)
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Next Game
» Mercer: at ETSU on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at J. Madison Brooks Gymnasium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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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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Stat of the Game
The Bears proved once again that defense is critical in winning games, forcing 21 Catamount turnovers. Mercer's offense only surrendered the ball on six occasions, while turning 21 Western Carolina turnovers into 24 Mercer points.
Â
Player of the Game
KeKe Calloway stole the show for Mercer, scoring 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-12 from downtown. Calloway's first triple of the game lifted her into Mercer history, becoming just the 26th player to score 1,000 career points.
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How It Happened
Mercer set the pace and momentum early in the first quarter, concluding the quarter with a 15-point advantage. The Catamounts scored on their opening possession with a layup from Julia Brown, claiming the early 2-0 lead. The Bears responded with a 21-4 run over the final nine minutes of the quarter, led by Calloway's 10 points.
Â
Western Carolina claimed the first four minutes of the second quarter, outscoring Mercer by six to cut its deficit to nine points with 5:50 to play in the half. The Bears responded with yet another run over the final 5:30 of the opening half, outscoring Western Carolina 13-4 for the 18-point lead at the intermission.
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The Catamounts outscored the Bears 15-13 in the third stanza, despite Mercer stretching its lead to 20 points. Western Carolina ended the frame on a 4-0 run to cut the Mercer lead to 16 points heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
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The Bears would not yield in the final quarter, stretching their lead further for a 23-point advantage with 3:39 to play following back-to-back free throws by Kahlia Lawrence. Shannon Titus's jumper put the icing on the cake with 1:05 to play, solidifying Mercer's 22-point victory.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 11-0 all-time against Western Carolina, including 8-0 under the direction of Head Coach Susie Gardner.
» Calloway ended the game with 23 points, joining 25 former Bears to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
» The Bears improve to 18-2, winning their 15th consecutive game to set the program record for most wins in the NCAA Division I era.
» Mercer has now won 13 consecutive games by double-digits, dating back to a 15-point win over Davidson on Dec. 3.
» Mercer forced 21 turnovers from Western Carolina, turning the blunders into 24 points on the offensive end.
» Sydni Means finished the game with seven points, 13 assists, four steals and just one turnover.
» Rachel Selph notched a season-high 15 points, tying her career-high set on Feb. 4, 2017 at ETSU.
» Gardner collected win No. 132 at Mercer and is just two wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.
» Mercer is now 8-1 in contests played inside Hawkins Arena this season.
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Coach's Corner
Opening Statement
"I'm pleased with our win today, though I felt that our defense wasn't our best. We got off to a great start in the first quarter, but after that we didn't play our best game. I am really proud of KeKe on scoring her 1,000th point. It's a win and it feels good to win."
Â
On the defensive focus this upcoming week
"You look at the score and you see they only scored 50 points. It wasn't so much the points they scored, but how they scored it. We have to move forward and prepare for the next opponent. We have to keep people fresh heading into the next set of games."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 18-2 (5-0 SoCon)
» Western Carolina: 3-17 (0-6 SoCon)
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Next Game
» Mercer: at ETSU on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at J. Madison Brooks Gymnasium in Johnson City, Tenn.
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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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