Mercer University
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North Fla.
North Florida Hands Women's Basketball 49-39 Defeat
1/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team dropped a 49-39 decision to North Florida at the University Center on Saturday to finish out a three-game homestand.
Sophomores Briana Williams and Jasmine Blakemore each scored eight points in the loss as Mercer slipped to 3-17 (1-8 A-Sun). UNF picked up its second-straight win and moved to 8-12 (5-4 A-Sun).
UNF senior Brittany Kirkland scored 17 second-half points and the Bears failed to overcome their lowest offensive output of the season. Saturday's game marked the first time the Bears have failed to score at least 40 since falling to Rice 65-39 on November 27, 2010.
Mercer led at the half for a second-straight outing after limiting the Ospreys to just six-of-28 (21.4%) shooting in the first period. The hosts' 19-18 halftime lead slipped away early in the second frame when UNF scored five-straight points to break away from a 23-23 tie.
With 7:31 to play, the UNF advantage had ballooned to 12 when Sharmesia Smith knocked down a 15-foot jumper that sparked a 10-0 Mercer surge. That stretch brought the Bears within two (39-37) with two minutes to play and saw the resurgent Bears' defense held UNF scoreless for more than eight minutes.
After Mercer had trimmed the margin to two, UNF was a perfect eight-of-eight from the free throw line and outscored the hosts 10-2 in the final two minutes.
Mercer had its best defensive showing of the year on Saturday, setting season-bests in points allowed (49), field goals allowed (15) and opponents' field goal percentage (.300).
Mercer returns to action on the road at Florida Gulf Coast on January 26. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
