Tuesday, December 18
Washington, D.C.
7 P.M.
Mercer University
85
at
70
Howard
1
2
3
4
F
Mercer
19
17
23
26
85
Howard
11
17
17
25
70
Team Stats
MER
HOWW
FG%
.482
.365
3FG%
.364
.357
FT%
.771
.550
RB
44
39
TO
17
13
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
13
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Thompson’s Career Night Propels Bears to Win
12/18/2018 10:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mercer cruises to 15-point victory over Howard in Nation’s Capital
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mercer cruised to the 85-70 victory over Howard in Washington, D.C. behind a career night from its senior forward, Amanda Thompson. Â
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Thompson (21) and KeKe Calloway (27) guided the Bears to the win, becoming the first duo to score 20 points apiece since Kahlia Lawrence (25) and Calloway (20) completed the feat against ETSU on Feb. 22, 2018.
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STAT OF THE GAME
The Bears won the ever-so-crucial rebound battle against the Bison, a team that prides itself on rebounds and second-chance points. Mercer corralled a season-high 44 rebounds, entering the game averaging just 32.9 boards. The Bears held Howard below its season average of 45.8 rebounds, allowing just 39 boards.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Thompson willed the Bears to the victory behind a career night in both points and rebounds. Thompson finished the night with 21 points (9-of-13) and 18 rebounds to lead the Bears to the win. Thompson is the first Bear since Teanna Robinson (Dec. 19, 2014) to reach 15 points and 15 rebounds in a single game.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears started off sluggish through the first four minutes, falling in a 9-0 hole to the Bison. However, Thompson's put-back layup sparked a 15-0 run for the Bears over a four-minute span. Thompson scored eight of her 21 points during the spurt to provide the spark that Mercer needed. The Bears would go on to outscore Howard 19-2 in the final 5:29 of the opening period.
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Shannon Titus scored four of the first five points for Mercer in the second quarter, stretching the Bears' lead to double-digits at 24-13 with just over six minutes to play in the half. The Bison cut the lead down to six twice in the quarter, but the Bears would not let off the gas. The two squads scored 17 apiece in the second quarter as Mercer held on to the eight-point lead.
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Howard would not go away quietly through the first five minutes of the new half, lurking behind by just seven points. However, an 11-3 run by the Bears pushed the advantage to 51-36 with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter. Four different players scored during the run, led by six points from Thompson. Mercer outscored the Bison 23-17 in the third frame, taking the 59-45 advantage into the final quarter of play.
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Mercer broke the game wide open through the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, racing out to a 13-5 advantage to stretch its lead to 72-50. The Bears held Howard at bay, stretching their lead to a game-high 24 on three occasions, with the last being a 79-55 advantage. The Bison concluded the game on a 15-6 run over the final five minutes to trim the Mercer victory to 15 points.
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NOTABLES
COACH'S CORNER
On the play of Thompson:
"We wouldn't have won the game without Amanda. We got off to a shaky start and had to call a timeout early. Amanda decided she was going to take the team and just lead us to the win. This was one of the best games she has had in her collegiate career."
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On the team's ability to outrebound Howard:
"The first half, they missed 31 shots and had 16 offensive rebounds. At halftime we discussed what to do to keep them off the offensive glass and we did a much better job of that in the second half. Howard averages 46 rebounds and had 39, we average 33 rebounds and we finished with 44."
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On having both point guards healthy:
"We needed Tia and Amoria to play tonight because Rachel and Ally got in foul trouble in the first half. We were playing with four guards a lot tonight because of that. Amoria had a great week of practice and she did some great things tonight. I was glad that Tia was able to play in front of her friends and family tonight. She gave us some really good minutes off the bench."
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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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Thompson (21) and KeKe Calloway (27) guided the Bears to the win, becoming the first duo to score 20 points apiece since Kahlia Lawrence (25) and Calloway (20) completed the feat against ETSU on Feb. 22, 2018.
Â
STAT OF THE GAME
The Bears won the ever-so-crucial rebound battle against the Bison, a team that prides itself on rebounds and second-chance points. Mercer corralled a season-high 44 rebounds, entering the game averaging just 32.9 boards. The Bears held Howard below its season average of 45.8 rebounds, allowing just 39 boards.
Â
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Thompson willed the Bears to the victory behind a career night in both points and rebounds. Thompson finished the night with 21 points (9-of-13) and 18 rebounds to lead the Bears to the win. Thompson is the first Bear since Teanna Robinson (Dec. 19, 2014) to reach 15 points and 15 rebounds in a single game.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears started off sluggish through the first four minutes, falling in a 9-0 hole to the Bison. However, Thompson's put-back layup sparked a 15-0 run for the Bears over a four-minute span. Thompson scored eight of her 21 points during the spurt to provide the spark that Mercer needed. The Bears would go on to outscore Howard 19-2 in the final 5:29 of the opening period.
Â
Shannon Titus scored four of the first five points for Mercer in the second quarter, stretching the Bears' lead to double-digits at 24-13 with just over six minutes to play in the half. The Bison cut the lead down to six twice in the quarter, but the Bears would not let off the gas. The two squads scored 17 apiece in the second quarter as Mercer held on to the eight-point lead.
Â
Howard would not go away quietly through the first five minutes of the new half, lurking behind by just seven points. However, an 11-3 run by the Bears pushed the advantage to 51-36 with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter. Four different players scored during the run, led by six points from Thompson. Mercer outscored the Bison 23-17 in the third frame, taking the 59-45 advantage into the final quarter of play.
Â
Mercer broke the game wide open through the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, racing out to a 13-5 advantage to stretch its lead to 72-50. The Bears held Howard at bay, stretching their lead to a game-high 24 on three occasions, with the last being a 79-55 advantage. The Bison concluded the game on a 15-6 run over the final five minutes to trim the Mercer victory to 15 points.
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NOTABLES
- Mercer Head Coach Susie Gardner picked up her 150th career win at Mercer following tonight's victory.
- The Bears improved to 3-0 all-time against Howard, including 1-0 in the first-ever meeting in Washington, D.C.
- Amanda Thompson's career-high 18 rebounds pushed the senior into 9th all-time in Mercer history with 721 career boards, passing Vivian Humphrey.
- Thompson finished the game with her third double-double of the season and sixth of her career.
- Thompson has now scored in double figures in five of the last six outings for the Bears.
- Thompson becomes the first player since Alex Williams (Jan. 12, 2017) to corral 15 boards and the first Bear since Teanna Robinson to finish with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
- KeKe Calloway finished with a game-high 27 points, knocking down a career-best 13 free throws.
- Mercer's 85 points and .482 percent from the field are the second highest marks on the season for the Bears.
- The Bears knocked down 27 free throws for the first time since Feb. 20, 2014 against USC Upstate.
- Shannon Titus chipped in 15 points, finishing 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
- Tia Benvenuti knocked down her first field goal attempt of the season in front of her home crowd, finishing 1-of-1 for two points and one assist.
COACH'S CORNER
On the play of Thompson:
"We wouldn't have won the game without Amanda. We got off to a shaky start and had to call a timeout early. Amanda decided she was going to take the team and just lead us to the win. This was one of the best games she has had in her collegiate career."
Â
On the team's ability to outrebound Howard:
"The first half, they missed 31 shots and had 16 offensive rebounds. At halftime we discussed what to do to keep them off the offensive glass and we did a much better job of that in the second half. Howard averages 46 rebounds and had 39, we average 33 rebounds and we finished with 44."
Â
On having both point guards healthy:
"We needed Tia and Amoria to play tonight because Rachel and Ally got in foul trouble in the first half. We were playing with four guards a lot tonight because of that. Amoria had a great week of practice and she did some great things tonight. I was glad that Tia was able to play in front of her friends and family tonight. She gave us some really good minutes off the bench."
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RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 6-5
- Howard: 7-4
NEXT GAME
- Mercer at George Washington on Friday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. at the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.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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