Mercer University
Stetson
Women's Hoops Bested at Stetson, 68-46
1/28/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DELAND, Fla. – The Mercer women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with the defending Atlantic Sun champion Stetson Hatters on Saturday, but ultimately ended up on the wrong side of a 68-46 decision at the Edmunds Center.
Sophomore Briana Williams scored a game-high 20 points in the loss, which dropped Mercer to 3-19 (1-10 A-Sun). Stetson posted its second-straight victory and improved to 17-5 (8-2 A-Sun).
Williams' 20-point output was the seventh time she has reached that mark this season. In 51 career games played, the McDonough, Ga. native has accomplished that feat 16 times.
Sophomore Jasmine Blakemore finished just shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards before fouling out with 3:31 to go. Her 12-point effort was one point short of tying a season-high effort.
Mercer started out hot as Tabitha Bradshaw and Williams each buried baseline jumpers in the opening minute to give the visitors an early 4-2 advantage. Mercer's strong offensive start was stalled however, as the Bears turned it over on four of their next five possessions.
Solid defense kept the score locked at 4-2 before consecutive buckets for Blakemore and Bridges gave Mercer an 8-2 advantage at the first media timeout. Stetson came right back however, employing a 15-2 run to go front 17-10 with 10:34 before intermission.
Mercer pulled to within a single score one more time before the break, but Stetson ultimately went into the locker room with a 33-25 edge.
Blakemore gave Mercer another fast start of out the dressing room, scoring four points within a minute of play resuming. Mercer fed off the energy Blakemore brought and cut the deficit to three with a 9-3 charge at the outset of the frame.
The Hatters came right back with their own 13-4 burst that quelled Mercer's enthusiasm and put the hosts in front by double digits for good.
Turnovers plagued Mercer throughout the game as the Bears handed the ball over 21 times in comparison to Stetson's eight miscues. Entering the game, Mercer had fewer turnovers than its opponent in five of the last seven outings.
Mercer returns home to face East Tennessee State on Thursday, February 2. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip and is the annual "Play for Kay" event with proceeds going towards breast cancer research.
