Mercer University
Georgia
No. 14 Georgia Too Much for Mercer Women
12/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer junior Ry'van Buchanan scored 13 points as the women's basketball team fell to No. 14 Georgia, 80-43 at the University Center on Thursday night. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 8-1 on the season while Mercer fell to 2-8.
Buchanan was 6-of-13 from the field, including 1-of-2 from three-point range in the loss. The Atlanta, Ga. native also tallied four rebounds, two blocks and an assist on Thursday.
Freshman Precious Bridges had her third-straight game in double-figure scoring, tallying 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting Tuesday. She also collected four rebounds and an assist in 31 minutes played.
"I felt like some of our players really battled the whole night, while others are still learning to do that consistently," Mercer head coach Susie Gardner said. "We've got 12 days until we play again and they will be some productive days."
Georgia scored first, but Mercer rattled off four-straight points on jumpers from Bridges and Alex Phillips to go on top 4-2. Mercer held that lead until the 9:36 mark of the first half, when Georgia's Meredith Mitchell scored a layup that gave the put the visitors on top, 15-14.
Georgia held Mercer to seven points over the final 9:57 of the first half to take a 37-23 advantage into halftime.
"Obviously the first 10 minutes of the game we looked like we could play with them," Gardner said. "In the last 30 minutes of the game it looked like Georgia was the number 14 team in the country.
Mercer freshman Alicia Williams opened the second half with a triple from the wing, trimming Mercer's deficit to 11. That was as close as the Bears would get in the final 20 minutes, as Georgia pushed its lead to as many as 38 before the game concluded.
Georgia placed three players in double figures, with junior forward Jasmine Hassell scoring a game high 16. Sophomore guard Khaalidah Miller scored 15 and junior forward Anne Marie Armstrong had 12 points.
Mercer sophomore Briana Williams netted nine points and had four rebounds in the loss.
Mercer returns to the University Center floor to host Troy in the team's next contest on December 18. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
