Comeback Bid Falls Short Versus Stetson

Monday, February 14

7 pm

Mercer University

Stetson

2/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

MACON, Ga. – Freshman Briana Williams netted 22 of her 31 points in the second half and Mercer trimmed a 21 point deficit to two with 5:05 to go, but Stetson held on for a 71-62 Atlantic Sun conference victory on Monday night at the University Center.

Mercer suffered its second-straight loss and fell to 2-23 (2-14 A-Sun) while Stetson took its third-straight win and moved to 14-11 (10-6 A-Sun).

Mercer trailed by as many as 21 in the first half, struggling to get open looks against the lengthy Stetson defenders. Williams was just 2-of-9 from the field in the opening period.

With just 3:10 to go in the first stanza, Mercer trailed 37-16 before Williams scored the half's last six points, cutting the margin to 37-21 at intermission.

William's hot hand carried over to the second half, as the freshman scored 13 of Mercer's first 19 points in the final frame.

With 12:10 to go, the Bears still trailed by 18 before employing a monotonous, 23-7 run that lasted just over seven minutes. Williams accounted for 12 of Mercer's points over the stretch.

Also contributing clutch buckets during the run were sophomores Kendra Grant and Alex Phillips.

Grant, who has been battling injury and had played just one minute in Mercer's last ten games, came out firing on Monday. Grant connected on her first three field goal attempts and finished with eight points and two rebounds in nine minutes of action.

Phillips was credited with seven points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of play.

Hanging on to the slim 61-59 lead, Stetson buckled down and ripped off eight-straight points to push their lead back to ten with 2:50 on the clock.

Williams' 31 point effort was the fourth time she has eclipsed the 30-point mark this season.

Mercer outrebounded Stetson 34-33, marking the first time this season the team has outrebounded opponents in consecutive games. On Saturday, the Bears topped FGCU on the boards 31-29.

Mercer returns to action at North Florida on Friday, February 18. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.