Mercer University
East Tenn. St.
ETSU Outlasts Women's Basketball, 83-68
1/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Three Mercer players scored in double figures, but visiting ETSU out-rebounded the hosts, 57-25 en route to an 83-68 win in Monday night's Atlantic Sun women's basketball game.
ETSU moved to 5-7 (2-1 A-Sun) while Mercer dropped to 1-11 (1-2 A-Sun).
Freshman Briana Williams paced Mercer with 24 points, her third 20-point effort of the season, while sophomore Kendra Grant added 16. Freshman Brittnee Hazel chipped in 10 in the losing effort.
In a back-and-forth contest throughout that featured six ties and six lead changes, ETSU used back-to-back three-pointers by Tara Davis and Natalie Pickwell to break the game open. The Buccaneers finished the final 6:55 of the game on a 14-4 run to pull out the win.
In the first half, a Davis three-pointer that opened the scoring and gave the Bucs and early 3-0 lead. The Bears responded by holding the visitors scoreless over the next 5:23 to jump out to an early 6-3 advantage. Mercer's six-straight points were keyed by back-to-back assists from Williams, first to Kourtney Carter then to Alex Phillips.
With the game tied at 26 with 5:17 left in the first half, ETSU employed 12-3 run to go ahead 38-29 with just 1:07 left in the first half. Just as it looked that ETSU would finish the half with the momentum, Williams sunk a free throw then and hit an open layup after forcing a turnover, bringing the Bears within five (38-33) at halftime.
Mercer built on that momentum at the start the second half when Sharnea Boykin pushed the ball up the court and spotted Williams in the corner for a wide open three-pointer that gave Mercer its first lead since the 12:25 mark of the opening half (44-42).
The Buccaneers responded by opening up an 11-point lead before back-to-back threes from Williams and Kendra Grant cut the visitors advantage to five (67-62) with just over eight minutes left.
The Bears finished the game with a season-high 22 assists. Boykin led the squad with 10 helpers, tying her previous season-high set against UNC Ashville on December 22.
Mercer returns to the hardwood when it welcomes A-Sun member USC Upstate to town on January 5. Tip is set for 5 p.m. at the University Center.
