Mercer University
Kennesaw St.
Potent Offense Lifts Bears to 71-46 Win over Owls
1/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team had four players score in double-figures to come away with an impressive 71-46 wire-to-wire road victory over Kennesaw State on Saturday evening at the KSU Convocation Center.
Mercer (7-7, 1-2 A-Sun) shot 46 percent from the field and held Kennesaw State (4-11, 0-3 A-Sun) to just 25 percent shooting for the game.
"This was a much needed win for our team, but more importantly our effort was outstanding from top to bottom," head coach Susie Gardner. "I thought Sharnea played one of the best games of her career and did an excellant job of pushing the basketball. We had four players who scored in double figures and Teanna had a breakout game with a double-double, but overall our team effort was just exceptional tonight and hopefully this win will give us more confidence moving forward."
Junior Kendra Grant and sophomore Precious Bridges each scored 16 points apiece while senior Ry'van Buchanan poured in 11 points and sophomore Teanna Robinson tallied a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Buchanan's 11 points were a season-high and Robinson's double-double was her second of the 2012-13 season.
The Bears would jump out to a quick start early on, using six points by Bridges to take an 11-4 lead with 15:37 remaining in the first half.
Mercer continued to attack on the offensive end and expand its lead after a mid-range jumper by Grant put the Bears in front 25-11 with 6:56 to go in the first half.
Kennesaw State managed to cut the Bears lead down to just five before back-to-back baskets by Bridges and sophomore Tabitha Bradshaw sent Mercer into the locker room with a 33-24 halftime lead.
The Orange and Black's 33 first half points were the second-most scored by the team this season, trailing just the 47 they scored in the first stanza at Troy on November 14.
The Bears continued to click on all cylinders to start the second half, scoring the first seven points of the period to take a commanding 40-24 lead with 18:51 left in the second half.
Mercer held steady the rest of the way, holding a 20-plus point lead for the majority of the contest on its way to its first A-Sun Conference win of the season.
Senior Sametria Gideon paced the Owls with 11 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort.
Mercer stays on the road next time out when it take on Jacksonville on January 12. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Arena.
