Mercer University
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North Fla.
Ospreys Top Bears, 70-49
2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Freshman Briana Williams scored 21 of her game-high 25 points in the first half as Mercer dropped a 70-49 decision to Atlantic Sun conference foe North Florida on Friday at UNF Arena.
UNF improved to 12-14 (10-7 A-Sun) while Mercer dropped to 2-24 (2-15 A-sun).
Sophomore Alex Phillips finished just shy of a double-double effort, collecting eight points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Phillips' 13 rebounds tied a career-high set at Belmont on Dec. 5, 2009.
In the first half, Williams was eight-of-15 from the field and accounted for 21 of Mercer's 28 points. As a team, Mercer shot 44% (11-of-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes and found itself in a 28-28 tie at intermission.
In the first four minutes of the second half, Mercer missed three of four shots and had four turnovers, allowing UNF to move out to a 41-30 lead. Mercer head coach Susie Gardner attempted to quell the UNF momentum with a timeout, but her strategy proved ineffective and the Ospreys extended their advantage to 19 (51-32) with 12:46 to go.
UNF would lead by double digits the rest of the way.
Williams was held scoreless for the first 14:18 of the second half and finished with four points on one-of-eight shooting in the second half.
UNF sophomore center Larkira Jones notched her fifth double-double of the year with a team-highs in points (18) and rebounds (16).
In the first half, Mercer's offense struggled out of the gate, hitting just one of its first seven field goal attempts as the hosts raced out to a 10-2 lead.
Mercer's offense got the jumpstart it needed when Williams drove baseline, drilled a pull-up jumper and was fouled with 13:36 on the clock. Williams hit the subsequent free throw, bringing the Bears within seven (12-5).
Later in the half, Mercer found itself behind by ten (18-8) before scoring eight unanswered, closing to within two with 9:05 to go. A Phillips jumper and back-to-back three balls from Williams comprised the 8-0 surge.
Mercer earned its first tie of the game when Williams got her defender in the air a drove baseline for a layup with 2:51 showing on the clock. Each team would play even for the reminder of the first period and enter halftime in a 28-28 deadlock.
Mercer returns to action with its final road game of the regular season, meeting Jacksonville on Sunday at 3 p.m.
