Thursday, December 28
Chapel Hill, N.C.
2 P.M.
Mercer University
12-2
97
at
86
North Carolina
10-3
1
2
3
4
F
Mercer
21
22
21
33
97
North Carolina
24
19
35
8
86
Team Stats
MER
NC
FG%
.419
.485
3FG%
.417
.300
FT%
.833
.810
RB
41
48
TO
5
17
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Pts
39
FGM
12
3FGM
6
FTM
9
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
Bears Complete Come-From-Behind Victory over Tar Heels
12/28/2017 5:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Lawrence notches career-high 39 points, while Means collects career-high 16 assists
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Mercer overcame a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to down the North Carolina Tar Heels, 97-86, in Chapel Hill, N.C. With the win, the Bears improve to 12-2 and run their win streak to nine games.
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Stat of the Game
Mercer's active hands proved to be the difference maker in today's game. The Bears forced 17 turnovers against North Carolina, while only committing five turnovers themselves. Mercer also picked up five steals and sent away six shots throughout the game.
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Player of the Game
Kahlia Lawrence sparked the Bears' offense today, garnering player of the game honors. Lawrence finished the game with a career-high 39 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Lawrence finished 6-of-9 from downtown to set a career-high in three pointers made, while also chipping in 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
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How It Happened
North Carolina jumped out on top early, hitting five of its first seven shots to take a 13-6 advantage over the visiting Bears. Mercer cut the deficit to three before the Tar Heels stretched their lead to 22-10 following a 9-0 run. Trailing by 11 with 1:18 left in the first quarter, Mercer went on an 8-0 run to close the gap to three led by Lawrence's five points.
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Neither squad was able to pull away from one another in the second frame. The Tar Heels stretched their lead back to seven with just under five minutes to play in the first half. Later in the quarter with the Bears trailing 43-37 with 1:20 left in the half, Mercer closed the second quarter on a 6-0 run. Lawrence netted two buckets in the closing minute, while Alex Williams went coast-to-coast for the game-tying layup as time expired.
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The third quarter was all North Carolina, outscoring Mercer 35-21 to take the 78-64 advantage into the final quarter of play. The Bears trailed 62-57 with 5:23 left in the third quarter before the Tar Heels went on a 16-7 run to close the third stanza. North Carolina's Paris Kea recorded 16 of the Tar Heels' 35 points in the quarter.
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North Carolina scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter to take its largest lead of the game, 80-64. With their backs against the walls, the Bears' offense proved resilient yet again. Mercer's offense kept chipping away at the North Carolina lead before Lawrence buried a triple with 3:31 left to tie the game at 84 apiece. KeKe Calloway then knocked down a corner three on the next Mercer possession to give the visiting squad its first lead of the game, one it would not relinquish. The Bears outscored the Tar Heels 33-8 in the final quarter, including 13-2 in the final 3:31 of play.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 1-3 all-time against North Carolina following the victory.
» The Bears have now won nine consecutive games and are 12-2 for the first time since 1979-80.
» Kahlia Lawrence knocked down a career-high 39 points, career-high six three pointers and pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds.
» Lawrence now ranks fourth all-time in scoring in program history with 1,910 career points.
» Sydni Means finished the game with 16 assists and just one turnover. Means' 16 assists falls just one shy of tying the record for most assists by a single player that the Tar Heels have allowed in North Carolina history.
» Calloway finished the game with 22 points, including 14 in the final quarter of play. Calloway has now notched four 20-point performances in a row.
» Head Coach Susie Gardner collected win number 126 at Mercer and is just eight wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.
» Mercer has now won five games against Power Five opponents since Gardner has taken over the program, first against an ACC opponent.
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Coach's Corner
On the team's resilience
"We were down in the first quarter, before tying the game up at halftime. The second half didn't start the way we wanted and we were down 16 at one point in the fourth quarter. We never lost that look in our eyes that the game was over. This was a total team effort as everyone stepped up down the stretch."
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On the ability to control the assist-to-turnover battle
"We tend to do really well in the assist-to-turnover category. We were able to force 17 turnovers which was big for us down the stretch. I feel like the key to any win is your assist-to-turnover ratio and it all starts with your point guard.
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On the active hands defensively
"We were well undersized with Alex and Amanda in the post. However, Alex is going to battle. Alex had some huge defensive rebounds at the end and Amanda held her own against a 6' 4" post player. Without the fight in those two, we don't win that basketball game."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 12-2
» North Carolina: 10-3
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Next Game
» Mercer: at Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. at Halton Arena in Charlotte, 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's active hands proved to be the difference maker in today's game. The Bears forced 17 turnovers against North Carolina, while only committing five turnovers themselves. Mercer also picked up five steals and sent away six shots throughout the game.
Â
Player of the Game
Kahlia Lawrence sparked the Bears' offense today, garnering player of the game honors. Lawrence finished the game with a career-high 39 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Lawrence finished 6-of-9 from downtown to set a career-high in three pointers made, while also chipping in 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Â
How It Happened
North Carolina jumped out on top early, hitting five of its first seven shots to take a 13-6 advantage over the visiting Bears. Mercer cut the deficit to three before the Tar Heels stretched their lead to 22-10 following a 9-0 run. Trailing by 11 with 1:18 left in the first quarter, Mercer went on an 8-0 run to close the gap to three led by Lawrence's five points.
Â
Neither squad was able to pull away from one another in the second frame. The Tar Heels stretched their lead back to seven with just under five minutes to play in the first half. Later in the quarter with the Bears trailing 43-37 with 1:20 left in the half, Mercer closed the second quarter on a 6-0 run. Lawrence netted two buckets in the closing minute, while Alex Williams went coast-to-coast for the game-tying layup as time expired.
Â
The third quarter was all North Carolina, outscoring Mercer 35-21 to take the 78-64 advantage into the final quarter of play. The Bears trailed 62-57 with 5:23 left in the third quarter before the Tar Heels went on a 16-7 run to close the third stanza. North Carolina's Paris Kea recorded 16 of the Tar Heels' 35 points in the quarter.
Â
North Carolina scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter to take its largest lead of the game, 80-64. With their backs against the walls, the Bears' offense proved resilient yet again. Mercer's offense kept chipping away at the North Carolina lead before Lawrence buried a triple with 3:31 left to tie the game at 84 apiece. KeKe Calloway then knocked down a corner three on the next Mercer possession to give the visiting squad its first lead of the game, one it would not relinquish. The Bears outscored the Tar Heels 33-8 in the final quarter, including 13-2 in the final 3:31 of play.
Â
Notables
» Mercer improves to 1-3 all-time against North Carolina following the victory.
» The Bears have now won nine consecutive games and are 12-2 for the first time since 1979-80.
» Kahlia Lawrence knocked down a career-high 39 points, career-high six three pointers and pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds.
» Lawrence now ranks fourth all-time in scoring in program history with 1,910 career points.
» Sydni Means finished the game with 16 assists and just one turnover. Means' 16 assists falls just one shy of tying the record for most assists by a single player that the Tar Heels have allowed in North Carolina history.
» Calloway finished the game with 22 points, including 14 in the final quarter of play. Calloway has now notched four 20-point performances in a row.
» Head Coach Susie Gardner collected win number 126 at Mercer and is just eight wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.
» Mercer has now won five games against Power Five opponents since Gardner has taken over the program, first against an ACC opponent.
Â
Coach's Corner
On the team's resilience
"We were down in the first quarter, before tying the game up at halftime. The second half didn't start the way we wanted and we were down 16 at one point in the fourth quarter. We never lost that look in our eyes that the game was over. This was a total team effort as everyone stepped up down the stretch."
Â
On the ability to control the assist-to-turnover battle
"We tend to do really well in the assist-to-turnover category. We were able to force 17 turnovers which was big for us down the stretch. I feel like the key to any win is your assist-to-turnover ratio and it all starts with your point guard.
Â
On the active hands defensively
"We were well undersized with Alex and Amanda in the post. However, Alex is going to battle. Alex had some huge defensive rebounds at the end and Amanda held her own against a 6' 4" post player. Without the fight in those two, we don't win that basketball game."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 12-2
» North Carolina: 10-3
Â
Next Game
» Mercer: at Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. at Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C.
Â
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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