Mercer University
Chattanooga
Lawrence Leads Mercer Past Chattanooga In Streak-Snapping Win
1/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Kahlia Lawrence scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Mercer University women's basketball team to a resounding 67-44 win over Chattanooga on Thursday night, ending a 52-game Southern Conference winning streak for the Mocs. Sydni Means and KeKe Calloway were also in double figures for the Bears with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Keiana Gilbert led Chattanooga with 15 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first 10 minutes of play, the lead changed five times and neither team led by more than four points. At the end of the opening period, Chattanooga held a slim 13-11 advantage. Mercer found its stride in the second period, opening with a 10-4 run that gave the Bears a 21-17 lead with 6:00 left until intermission. Following a pair of free throws from the Mocs, the Bears answered with an 11-0 spurt that gave them a 13-point lead, 32-19. Chattanooga outscored Mercer 7-2 in the final 2:12 of the half, cutting the Bears' halftime lead to 34-26.
Despite the Mocs threatening in the third period, the Bears maintained the lead by at least six points at all times, even working their way back up to a 51-39 advantage at the end of the quarter. In the final 10 minutes of play, Mercer outscored Chattanooga, 16-5, which includes making seven of eight free throw attempts. The Bears' kept the Mocs from scoring in the final four minutes of the game, eventually working their way to the 67-44 advantage before time expired.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Bears outrebounded the Mocs, 38-23, as well as outscored them in second chance points, 17-4.
NOTABLES
- Kahlia Lawrence scored a game-high 24 points, recording her 16th double digit game of the season as well as her 8th game with 20+ points. Lawrence also had seven rebounds, three assists and one steal.
- Sydni Means scored 12 points, marking her seventh double figure performance this season. Means also tallied five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
- KeKe Calloway notched 10 points for her eighth double digit game this season. Calloway added four rebounds and two assists for the Bears.
- Alex Williams registered a season-high-tying eight points as well as six rebounds.
- Brittnee Broadway also tied her season high in scoring, netting six points for the Bears.
- Linnea Rosendal contributed five points and three rebounds, while Rachel Selph notched three rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
- Amanda Thompson recorded six rebounds, two points and a steal.
- Mercer connected on 45.8 percent of its shots from the field, including 40 percent from behind the three-point line.
- The Bears won the turnover battle with the Mocs, 8-14, and also scored 23 points off of Chattanooga's turnovers.
- With the win, Mercer snapped Chattanooga's 52-game SoCon winning streak.
- Mercer also opened the conference slate with a 4-0 record for the first time in the NCAA era.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer improves to 14-5 overall and 4-0 in SoCon play, while Chattanooga moves to 13-6 on the season and 4-1 in league action.
UP NEXT
Mercer will host ETSU at Hawkins Arena on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 2:00 p.m.
For all the latest information on Mercer women's basketball, please visit MercerBears.com or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow Mercer basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @MercerWBB or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Mercerwbb.
