Mercer University
Lipscomb
Women's Basketball Falls at Lipscomb, 80-70
12/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Junior Ry'van Buchanan booked Mercer's first double-double of the season in an 80-70 loss to Lipscomb at Allen Arena on Thursday night. The women's basketball game marked the conference opener for both teams.
The loss was Mercer's first defeat in a conference opener since the 2007-08 season. The Bears fell to 1-6 (0-1 A-Sun) while the Lady Bisons moved to 1-7 (1-0 A-Sun).
Free throws were the difference in the game, as the teams combined for 74 in the contest. Lipscomb was 34-43 (79.1%) at the charity stripe while Mercer finished 16-31 (51.6%).
Buchanan's double-dip came with 11 points and 12 boards, both season-highs for the Atlanta, Ga. native. Buchanan had 10 of those rebounds on the offensive end and also had four steals in 29 minutes of work.
Freshman Precious Bridges led the team with a season-high 18 points on 9-of-26 shooting from the field. Her nine field goals, 26 field goals attempted and 37 minutes played were all season-highs.
Sophomore Briana Williams had 16 points, two steals, one block and one rebound in the loss.
Mercer out-rebounded its opponent for the third-straight game, finishing with a 44-39 edge in caroms. The Bears' boards helped the team hold a 25-5 advantage in second-chance scoring.
Mercer jumped all over the hosts, scoring the game's first six points and holding the Lady Bisons without a bucket for the first 3:14 of game time. Lipscomb got its first score on a layup by O'Neisha Smith, triggering a 12-0 run for the hosts.
Lipscomb held the advantage until Sharmesia Smith ducked through two defenders and scored a layup at the 4:16 mark, tying the game at 25. On the next possession, Mercer's full court press defense created a turnover and Williams scored a pull up jumper for Mercer's first lead in over 11 minutes.
Lipscomb reclaimed the lead with nine seconds to go in the half when Hannah Phillips scored a layup and was fouled. She hit the free throw, but Bridges scored a quick bucket before the buzzer to tie the game at 35 before intermission.
Lipscomb moved away from a 37-37 tie early in the second half with seven-straight points. The Lady Bisons would hold that lead for the remainder of the game. The hosts would push their lead to as many as 12 before the clock expired.
Junior Alex Phillips collected 13 boards in the loss. In her last three games, Phillips is averaging 14.0 rebounds per game.
Mercer returns to action at Belmont on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. eastern time.
