Mercer University
Belmont
Belmont Bests Women's Basketball in Overtime
2/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Freshman Briana Williams scored 23 points and Mercer held a 39-35 edge in rebounding, but Belmont escaped the University Center with a 67-62 win in Thursday night's Atlantic Sun women's basketball game.
Mercer dropped to 2-26 (2-17 A-Sun) while Belmont jumped to 9-19 (6-13 A-Sun).
Williams tallied 17 of her 23 in the second half and overtime periods but Belmont erased a six-point second half deficit en route to the victory.
Redshirt freshman Amber Chatmon connected on a pull-up jumper with 14:14 to go in the second period to give Mercer a 38-32 advantage, but Belmont held the Bears scoreless for the next 3:03 and eventually tied the contest at 40 with 8:46 showing on the clock.
Down five with just over two minutes left in regulation, Williams slashed to the bucket and converted a layup. Moments later, Mercer forced Belmont into a costly turnover and Williams drilled a jumper to bring the Bears within one (52-51).
A pair of free throws for Belmont's Kristin Nash moved the visitors in front 54-51, but Williams canned a three pointer to knot the game at 54 with 56 tics left.
Belmont's Haley Nelson and Mercer's Sharmesia Smith traded layups in the final 42 seconds of play, sending the teams to an extra period.
In the overtime, Williams drained a pair of free throws that placed the hosts on top, 62-61 with 1:39 to go. Williams' second free throw capped the Mercer scoring, as Belmont finished the game on a 6-0 run aided by four-of-four shooting from the charity stripe.
As a team, Mercer had two turnovers and could only muster one shot in the final minute play.
Smith finished with seven points and 11 rebounds, marking the 11th time the sophomore has booked double-digit rebounds this season.
Freshman Brittnee Hazel collected 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks in the losing effort.
Mercer wraps up its season with a home game against Lipscomb on Saturday at 2 p.m.
