Sunday, November 26
Atlanta, Ga.
4 P.M.
Mercer University
4-2
70
vs
54
VCU
0-5
1
2
3
4
F
VCU
4
16
24
10
54
Mercer
13
25
21
11
70
Team Stats
VCU
MER
FG%
.326
.462
3FG%
.167
.167
FT%
.786
.667
RB
34
36
TO
21
11
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
Bears Batter Rams to Conclude GSU Thanksgiving Classic
11/26/2017 8:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. – Mercer concluded the GSU Thanksgiving Classic with a convincing 70-54 victory over the Rams of VCU on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Bears improve to 4-2 on the season, while VCU falls to 0-5.
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STAT OF THE MATCH
The Bears won the rebound battle against the Rams, outrebounding the competitor for the first time this season. Mercer pulled down 36 boards, compared to 34 for VCU.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
After a tough first game in the GSU Thanksgiving Classic on Friday, Rachel Selph bounced back with a season-high 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Selph also added three rebounds and one block in 14 minutes of action.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer opened a convincing nine-point lead in the first quarter following eight points from Kahlia Lawrence, securing the 13-4 advantage. The Mercer defense held VCU without a field goal for the final eight minutes of the opening quarter, establishing the tone early in favor of the Bears. The Rams shot just 1-of-7 in the opening frame.
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The second quarter was much like the first with the Bears controlling the tempo. Mercer doubled its lead by the end of the quarter as Sydni Means reached into her bag of tricks for a nifty layup as time expired. The Bears countered a late 9-0 VCU run with a 10-2 run of their own over the final 1:56 of the first half to take a 38-20 advantage into the locker room.
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The Bears held tight to their substantial lead in the third quarter, surrendering the third frame to the Rams by the score of 24-21. Rachel Selph and KeKe Calloway each registered five points in the third quarter as Mercer cruised comfortably to a 15-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
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Mercer outscored the Rams, 11-10, in the final quarter of play to claim the 16-point victory over VCU. Shon Kitchens accumulated four points in the final quarter to lead the Bears, while freshman Shannon Titus knocked down her first collegiate basket.
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NOTABLES
» Calloway was named to the GSU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.
» Mercer improves to 1-1 all-time against VCU following tonight's victory.
» Selph picked up career block number 68, tying Christy Cogley for the sixth-most blocks in program history.
» Lawrence netted 14 points, running her career total to 1,746 which ties Cindy Brogdon for seventh all-time in program history.
» Head Coach Susie Gardner earned career win number 294.
» Kayla Potts proved to be all over the floor tonight, scoring a season-high six points, pulling down a season-high five rebounds and dishing a season-high four assists.
» The Mercer defense forced 21 turnovers, marking the fifth game this season that the Bears have forced 20 or more turnovers this season.
» The Bears scored a whopping 24 points off turnovers tonight, holding the Rams to just five points off 11 Mercer turnovers.
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COACH'S CORNER
 On the play of Kayla Potts
"I thought Kayla came out and gave us a spark both offensively and defensively today," said Gardner. "She played a great game defensively on Friday, so I thought she earned more playing time today. She was aggressive on both sides of the ball tonight."
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On the bounce-back game from Rachel Selph
"Rachel did not play her best on Friday as she got into foul trouble early and didn't have her hands ready," stated Gardner. "We decided not to start her tonight so that she could focus a little bit better. I thought she did a great job after not starting. She played like we need her to play consistently the rest of the year."
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RECORDS UPDATE
» Mercer: 4-2
» VCU: 0-5
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NEXT GAME
» Mercer at Campbell on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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STAT OF THE MATCH
The Bears won the rebound battle against the Rams, outrebounding the competitor for the first time this season. Mercer pulled down 36 boards, compared to 34 for VCU.
Â
PLAYER OF THE GAME
After a tough first game in the GSU Thanksgiving Classic on Friday, Rachel Selph bounced back with a season-high 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Selph also added three rebounds and one block in 14 minutes of action.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer opened a convincing nine-point lead in the first quarter following eight points from Kahlia Lawrence, securing the 13-4 advantage. The Mercer defense held VCU without a field goal for the final eight minutes of the opening quarter, establishing the tone early in favor of the Bears. The Rams shot just 1-of-7 in the opening frame.
Â
The second quarter was much like the first with the Bears controlling the tempo. Mercer doubled its lead by the end of the quarter as Sydni Means reached into her bag of tricks for a nifty layup as time expired. The Bears countered a late 9-0 VCU run with a 10-2 run of their own over the final 1:56 of the first half to take a 38-20 advantage into the locker room.
Â
The Bears held tight to their substantial lead in the third quarter, surrendering the third frame to the Rams by the score of 24-21. Rachel Selph and KeKe Calloway each registered five points in the third quarter as Mercer cruised comfortably to a 15-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
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Mercer outscored the Rams, 11-10, in the final quarter of play to claim the 16-point victory over VCU. Shon Kitchens accumulated four points in the final quarter to lead the Bears, while freshman Shannon Titus knocked down her first collegiate basket.
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NOTABLES
» Calloway was named to the GSU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.
» Mercer improves to 1-1 all-time against VCU following tonight's victory.
» Selph picked up career block number 68, tying Christy Cogley for the sixth-most blocks in program history.
» Lawrence netted 14 points, running her career total to 1,746 which ties Cindy Brogdon for seventh all-time in program history.
» Head Coach Susie Gardner earned career win number 294.
» Kayla Potts proved to be all over the floor tonight, scoring a season-high six points, pulling down a season-high five rebounds and dishing a season-high four assists.
» The Mercer defense forced 21 turnovers, marking the fifth game this season that the Bears have forced 20 or more turnovers this season.
» The Bears scored a whopping 24 points off turnovers tonight, holding the Rams to just five points off 11 Mercer turnovers.
Â
COACH'S CORNER
 On the play of Kayla Potts
"I thought Kayla came out and gave us a spark both offensively and defensively today," said Gardner. "She played a great game defensively on Friday, so I thought she earned more playing time today. She was aggressive on both sides of the ball tonight."
Â
On the bounce-back game from Rachel Selph
"Rachel did not play her best on Friday as she got into foul trouble early and didn't have her hands ready," stated Gardner. "We decided not to start her tonight so that she could focus a little bit better. I thought she did a great job after not starting. She played like we need her to play consistently the rest of the year."
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RECORDS UPDATE
» Mercer: 4-2
» VCU: 0-5
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NEXT GAME
» Mercer at Campbell on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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