Thursday, December 21
Macon, Ga.
7 P.M.
Mercer University
11-2
70
vs
44
Howard
3-8
1
2
3
4
F
Howard
21
11
10
2
44
Mercer
8
29
15
18
70
Team Stats
HOWW
MER
FG%
.327
.325
3FG%
.300
.238
FT%
.474
.714
RB
38
51
TO
23
9
STL
4
12
Game Leaders
Pts
30
FGM
11
3FGM
5
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballBears Storm Past Bison Behind Calloway's Career Night
12/21/2017 10:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer improved to 11-2 on the season, notching win number eight in-a-row after defeating Howard by the final score of 70-44. For the second consecutive game, junior guard KeKe Calloway has displayed career-high numbers, this time knocking down 30 points to lead all scorers.
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Stat of the Game
Mercer corralled a season-best 51 rebounds in tonight's victory, outrebounding the Bison by 13. The last time the Bears grabbed 50-plus boards was against UNCG on Feb. 6, 2016 when Mercer pulled down 56 total rebounds.
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Player of the Game
Calloway was tabbed as the player of the game for the second consecutive outing, burying a career-high 30 points. The Georgia native also pulled down nine rebounds to tie her previous career high, six of which came on the offensive glass. Calloway also swiped six steals, setting a new career for most steals in a single game.
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How It Happened
The Bison started out on a quick note, jumping out to a 5-0 lead through the first two minutes. Mercer's first four points came via the junior forward, Rachel Selph, trimming the Bears' deficit to 7-4. Howard ended the quarter on a 14-4 run to claim the 21-8 lead following the first stanza.
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Howard and Mercer went back-and-forth to open the second quarter as the Bison maintained their 13-point advantage, 27-14. The Mercer offense came to life over the final six minutes of the first half, outscoring Howard by the final count of 23-5. The Bison held a 32-25 advantage with 3:14 remaining in the first half until Mercer went on a 12-0 tear to conclude the half with a five-point advantage.
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The Bears started the second half the way they ended the first, with a 10-0 spurt to stretch their lead to 47-32. A Howard layup by Asia McCants with 5:34 left in the third quarter put an end to Mercer's 22-0 run. McCants' layup sparked a 10-5 Howard run as the Bears were held without a field goal in the final three minutes of the third quarter.
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After both squads traded the first two points of the final quarter, Mercer outscored Howard 16-0 during the final 8:44 of the game. The Bears did not yield a single field goal in the fourth quarter, holding the Bison to 0-of-10 from the field. Howard's only two points came at the charity stripe, finishing 2-of-8 at the line in the fourth quarter. The Bears' offense remained in control as Calloway and Shannon Titus combined for 10 of the final 16 Mercer points.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 2-0 all-time against Howard.
» The Bears have now won eight consecutive games and are 11-2 for the first time since 1979-80.
» After allowing 21 first quarter points, Mercer outscored Howard 62-23 in the final three quarters, including 33-12 in the second half.
» Kahlia Lawrence (1,871) passed Myrel Huskey for fifth all-time in scoring in Mercer history and now sits 15 points behind former teammate Precious Bridges for fourth all-time.
» Sydni Means finished the game with eight points and eight assists, while Selph ended the game with six points and eight boards.
» Calloway now has 80 points in the last three games and has moved into third all-time in program history for career three pointers made with 162.
» Mercer is finding its way onto the boards, outrebounding its opponent for the fifth time in six games.
» Head Coach Susie Gardner collected win number 125 at Mercer and is just nine wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.
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Coach's Corner
On the smaller lineup
"We have become accustomed to having a smaller lineup once we sub Rachel out. However, I feel that it works for us. Kayla came in and gave us a huge spark tonight. I thought KeKe played exceptional and not just her scoring. She was aggressive in getting rebounds and playing at the basket. She showed us a side of KeKe that is more than just knocking down threes."
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On KeKe's ability to come up with the steal
"KeKe likes to get steals and she has an uncanny ability to anticipate the ball. She looks as if she isn't moving the fastest but then she is able to get her hands in the passing lane. Her defense helped us get going when we were down."
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On the upcoming five-game road swing
"I am okay with being on the road before classes start because we can have basketball 24/7. We won't be in class and they won't have any studying to do, therefore we can watch film of teams and individuals."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 11-2
» Howard: 3-8
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Next Game
» Mercer: at North Carolina on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, 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 Game
Mercer corralled a season-best 51 rebounds in tonight's victory, outrebounding the Bison by 13. The last time the Bears grabbed 50-plus boards was against UNCG on Feb. 6, 2016 when Mercer pulled down 56 total rebounds.
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Player of the Game
Calloway was tabbed as the player of the game for the second consecutive outing, burying a career-high 30 points. The Georgia native also pulled down nine rebounds to tie her previous career high, six of which came on the offensive glass. Calloway also swiped six steals, setting a new career for most steals in a single game.
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How It Happened
The Bison started out on a quick note, jumping out to a 5-0 lead through the first two minutes. Mercer's first four points came via the junior forward, Rachel Selph, trimming the Bears' deficit to 7-4. Howard ended the quarter on a 14-4 run to claim the 21-8 lead following the first stanza.
Â
Howard and Mercer went back-and-forth to open the second quarter as the Bison maintained their 13-point advantage, 27-14. The Mercer offense came to life over the final six minutes of the first half, outscoring Howard by the final count of 23-5. The Bison held a 32-25 advantage with 3:14 remaining in the first half until Mercer went on a 12-0 tear to conclude the half with a five-point advantage.
Â
The Bears started the second half the way they ended the first, with a 10-0 spurt to stretch their lead to 47-32. A Howard layup by Asia McCants with 5:34 left in the third quarter put an end to Mercer's 22-0 run. McCants' layup sparked a 10-5 Howard run as the Bears were held without a field goal in the final three minutes of the third quarter.
Â
After both squads traded the first two points of the final quarter, Mercer outscored Howard 16-0 during the final 8:44 of the game. The Bears did not yield a single field goal in the fourth quarter, holding the Bison to 0-of-10 from the field. Howard's only two points came at the charity stripe, finishing 2-of-8 at the line in the fourth quarter. The Bears' offense remained in control as Calloway and Shannon Titus combined for 10 of the final 16 Mercer points.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 2-0 all-time against Howard.
» The Bears have now won eight consecutive games and are 11-2 for the first time since 1979-80.
» After allowing 21 first quarter points, Mercer outscored Howard 62-23 in the final three quarters, including 33-12 in the second half.
» Kahlia Lawrence (1,871) passed Myrel Huskey for fifth all-time in scoring in Mercer history and now sits 15 points behind former teammate Precious Bridges for fourth all-time.
» Sydni Means finished the game with eight points and eight assists, while Selph ended the game with six points and eight boards.
» Calloway now has 80 points in the last three games and has moved into third all-time in program history for career three pointers made with 162.
» Mercer is finding its way onto the boards, outrebounding its opponent for the fifth time in six games.
» Head Coach Susie Gardner collected win number 125 at Mercer and is just nine wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.
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Coach's Corner
On the smaller lineup
"We have become accustomed to having a smaller lineup once we sub Rachel out. However, I feel that it works for us. Kayla came in and gave us a huge spark tonight. I thought KeKe played exceptional and not just her scoring. She was aggressive in getting rebounds and playing at the basket. She showed us a side of KeKe that is more than just knocking down threes."
Â
On KeKe's ability to come up with the steal
"KeKe likes to get steals and she has an uncanny ability to anticipate the ball. She looks as if she isn't moving the fastest but then she is able to get her hands in the passing lane. Her defense helped us get going when we were down."
Â
On the upcoming five-game road swing
"I am okay with being on the road before classes start because we can have basketball 24/7. We won't be in class and they won't have any studying to do, therefore we can watch film of teams and individuals."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 11-2
» Howard: 3-8
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Next Game
» Mercer: at North Carolina on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, 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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