Mercer University
Georgia
No. 6 Georgia Pulls Away in Second Half for 80-38 Win over Mercer
12/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. – After hanging tough in the first half, the Mercer women's basketball team couldn't maintain its play and ended up dropping an 80-38 decision to No. 6 Georgia on Tuesday evening at Stegeman Coliseum.
Georgia (10-0) capitalized on its size and depth, out-scoring Mercer (4-3) 44-6 in the paint to come away with the home win.
Junior Kendra Grant had a game-high 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field for her third-straight game scoring in double-figures.
The Bears got off to a great start, beginning the contest on a 10-6 run over the first 3:33 of the game. Grant fueled the Bears quick start by scoring eight points during the stretch, including connecting on a pair of three-pointers.
Georgia came out of the first media timeout of the game and ripped off an 8-0 run to go up 14-10 with 12:35 remaining in the first half. Mercer kept it close, however, using a mid-range jumper by Grant to pull within two, at 14-12.
The Bears continued to hang around despite Georgia pulling away late, entering the locker room down 34-21 at half. Mercer's 21 points were the third-most allowed by the Bulldogs in the first half of a game in the 2012-13 season to date.
Georgia didn't let up coming out of halftime, starting the second half on a 23-4 run. Back-to-back three pointers by sophomore Erika Ford and freshman Marjorie Butler capped the scoring streak and made the score 57-25 Bulldogs with 11:48 remaining in the game.
Mercer tried to cut into Georgia's advantage, but the Bulldogs were just too deep and never let the Bears back into the contest to secure the win.
Ford and seniors Jasmine James and Jasmine Hassell led four Bulldogs in double-figure scoring with 12 points apiece in the win.
Mercer stays in-state for its next contest, traveling east to Statesboro to take on Georgia Southern on December 7. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse.
