Mercer University
Campbell
Women's Basketball Handles Georgia College in Exhibition, 73-43
11/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team placed three players in double figures and extended a three point halftime lead to 30 in the second half of Thursday night's exhibition game against Georgia College. When the final buzzer sounded at the University Center, the Bears had booked a 73-43 victory in their lone exhibition contest of the season.
Junior Ry'van Buchanan and sophomore Briana Williams each had 13 points to lead Mercer offensively while freshman Precious Bridges chipped in 11 points of her own.
"I think we got the jitters out tonight," Mercer head coach Susie Gardner said. "Overall it was a productive game. We were a different team in the second half and I think our press made the difference."
After holding a slim 32-29 edge at the half, Mercer outscored the visitors 41-14 in the second frame due in large part to an aggressive full-court press defense. The Bears forced the Bobcats in 19 turnovers in the second half and scored 30 points off those GCSU miscues.
Buchanan's Mercer debut was especially impressive when you consider the Atlanta native was five-of-six from the field and played only 18 minutes. Buchanan also added four rebounds, three assists and two steals to her stat line.
Bridges added eight rebounds to her 11 points and finished five-of-six from the free throw line. Eight of her 11 points came in the second half.
Williams' 13 points came on three-of-nine shooting from beyond the arc in 22 minutes of action. She also notched a game-high six steals in the winning effort.
Juniors Alex Phillips and Sharmesia Smith combined for 17 rebounds in the win, helping Mercer hold a 55-43 advantage on the glass. Phillips had nine boards and four points while Smith collected eight caroms and four points.
GCSU started the game on a 7-0 run and held the advantage for most of the first half. With the Bobcats out front 29-25 with 1:26 to go before halftime, Mercer closed the period on a 7-0 surge to take the lead at intermission.
Ahead 36-33 with 17:23 in the second half, Mercer's defense clamped down and held the visitors scoreless for the next 8:20. During that stretch, Mercer's lead ballooned from three to as many as 29.
All 14 of Mercer's players saw action, with 10 Bears booking more than 10 minutes of playing time.
Mercer returns to action hosting Auburn in its regular season opener on November 11. The game, which marks the team's homecoming event, is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip.
