Friday, November 23
Conway, S.C.
4 P.M.
Mercer University
2-3
53
vs
59
Memphis
2-3
1
2
3
4
F
Mercer
22
13
11
7
53
Memphis
11
16
15
17
59
Team Stats
MER
MEMPHIS
FG%
.306
.339
3FG%
.321
.154
FT%
1.000
.731
RB
31
50
TO
12
16
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Rosendal Buries Season-High 19 Points in Loss
11/23/2018 7:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mercer unable to fend off Memphis in Thanksgiving Classic
CONWAY, S.C. – The Mercer Women's Basketball team squandered a 14-point lead in the first leg of the Coastal Carolina Thanksgiving Classic, falling to Memphis by the final score of 59-53. Linnea Rosendal finished the game with a season-high 19 points on 6-of-13 from the field. With the loss, the Bears fall to 2-3 on the season heading into Sunday's contest. Â
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STAT OF THE GAME
Rebounding was a critical factor yet again going against the favor of the Bears. Mercer lost the rebounding battle to Memphis (50-31), allowing the Tigers to compile 21 offensive boards and convert 15 second-chance points.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer got off to a scorching start, scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the game to force a Memphis timeout. Linnea Rosendal connected for the first basket of the game, while KeKe Calloway buried two from downtown prior to the Tigers' timeout. The Bears quickly extended their lead to double digits at 14-4 following a made jumper from Shannon Titus. Mercer concluded the first 10 minutes doubling Memphis, 22-11, led in scoring by Calloway and Rosendal with eight apiece.
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The Bears cooled off in the second quarter, falling 16-13 in the frame as the Tigers trimmed the Mercer lead to single digits heading into the locker room. The Bears matched their first-quarter, 14-point lead on three occasions in the quarter. However, Memphis ended the half on a 6-0 run to cut the Mercer advantage to just eight. Rosendal continued her impressive shooting in the first half, finishing with 14 points and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
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For the second consecutive game, the second half proved to be the rough stretch for the Bears. Memphis outscored the Orange & Black by the final count of 32-18 in the final 20 minutes of play. The Bears did not relinquish the lead until the 7:39 mark in the final quarter but were not able to reclaim the advantage. Mercer knotted the contest twice in the final quarter but was unable to find the go-ahead basket as Memphis outscored the Bears 8-2 in the final three minutes of play.
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NOTABLES
COACH'S CORNER
Final thoughts:
"We jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first half and we are a really good team when things were going our way. We stressed to them about being outrebounded (50-31). Not only that, Memphis had 21 offensive rebounds and went to the free throw line 26 times to just six for us."
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"We need more productivity out of our post players than we had tonight. I thought Linnea shot the ball exceptionally well tonight but she was the only efficient one. It is a disappointing loss for us and one that we will have to address moving forward."
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RECORDS UPDATE
NEXT GAME
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
Rebounding was a critical factor yet again going against the favor of the Bears. Mercer lost the rebounding battle to Memphis (50-31), allowing the Tigers to compile 21 offensive boards and convert 15 second-chance points.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer got off to a scorching start, scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the game to force a Memphis timeout. Linnea Rosendal connected for the first basket of the game, while KeKe Calloway buried two from downtown prior to the Tigers' timeout. The Bears quickly extended their lead to double digits at 14-4 following a made jumper from Shannon Titus. Mercer concluded the first 10 minutes doubling Memphis, 22-11, led in scoring by Calloway and Rosendal with eight apiece.
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The Bears cooled off in the second quarter, falling 16-13 in the frame as the Tigers trimmed the Mercer lead to single digits heading into the locker room. The Bears matched their first-quarter, 14-point lead on three occasions in the quarter. However, Memphis ended the half on a 6-0 run to cut the Mercer advantage to just eight. Rosendal continued her impressive shooting in the first half, finishing with 14 points and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Â
For the second consecutive game, the second half proved to be the rough stretch for the Bears. Memphis outscored the Orange & Black by the final count of 32-18 in the final 20 minutes of play. The Bears did not relinquish the lead until the 7:39 mark in the final quarter but were not able to reclaim the advantage. Mercer knotted the contest twice in the final quarter but was unable to find the go-ahead basket as Memphis outscored the Bears 8-2 in the final three minutes of play.
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NOTABLES
- Mercer falls to 0-4 all-time against Memphis with the loss, while Coach Gardner falls to 4-5 against the Tigers in her coaching career.
- Rosendal buried a season-best 19 points to lead the Bears in scoring, knocking down five from beyond the line.
- The Mercer defense forced 16 turnovers, converting the Memphis blunders into 11 points.
- Rosendal and Calloway were a combined 9-of-18 in the first half and 3-of-19 in the second half.
- Amanda Thompson finished the game with four points, seven rebounds and five assists.
COACH'S CORNER
Final thoughts:
"We jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first half and we are a really good team when things were going our way. We stressed to them about being outrebounded (50-31). Not only that, Memphis had 21 offensive rebounds and went to the free throw line 26 times to just six for us."
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"We need more productivity out of our post players than we had tonight. I thought Linnea shot the ball exceptionally well tonight but she was the only efficient one. It is a disappointing loss for us and one that we will have to address moving forward."
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RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 2-3
- Memphis: 2-3
NEXT GAME
- Mercer vs. Bowling Green on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 11:30 a.m. at HTC Center in Conway, S.C.
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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