Mercer University
Troy
Women's Basketball Outlasts Troy in Overtime
12/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer sophomore Briana Williams scored 13 of Mercer's final 20 points to will the women's basketball team to a 69-59 overtime win against Troy on Sunday at the University Center. Williams finished with a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds.
Mercer took its second win in the last three games and moved to 3-7 while Troy dipped to 1-9 on the year.
Williams' scoring output was the 12th time the McDonough, Ga. native has surpassed the 20-point mark in a Mercer jersey. The game also marked the fourth time she has scored 25 or more at the University Center.
Freshman Alicia Williams and junior Ry'van Buchanan each scored in double figures on Sunday, netting 13 points and 10 points respectively. Buchanan's 10-point performance marked the fourth-straight game she has scored 10 or more.
Junior Sharmesia Smith finished just shy of a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her nine points.
The Bears led by as many as seven in the first half before a buzzer-beating three for Troy's Ieva Nagy sent the Trojans into halftime down 30-28.
Troy took the lead briefly at the start of the second half, but Mercer regained the advantage at the 18:41 mark on a triple from Alicia Williams. Troy wouldn't regain the lead until the scoreboard showed 2:42 to play in regulation.
At the 1:31 mark, Troy's Brooke Bowie scored a layup to knot the game at 55. Both teams went scoreless for the remainder of play and Mercer went to overtime for the first time this season.
Mercer outscored Troy 14-4 in overtime, with seven of Mercer's points coming from Briana Williams. The Bears broke away from a 57-57 tie with nine-straight points. Smith scored the last four points of that 9-0 run to help the Bears put the game away.
Mercer finished with heavy advantages in both points off turnovers (24-12) and bench scoring (22-9).
The Bears return to action at UNC Asheville on December 21. Game time is scheduled for noon.
