Saturday, January 12
Macon, Ga.
2 P.M.
Mercer University
9-7, 1-0
76
vs
68
Samford
5-11, 0-1
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Samford
11
11
17
25
4
68
Mercer
10
17
16
21
12
76
Team Stats
SAM
MER
FG%
.417
.429
3FG%
.200
.231
FT%
.793
.655
RB
38
30
TO
22
8
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Bears Claim SoCon Opener in Overtime
1/12/2019 5:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Amanda Thompson leads way with career-high 24 points against Samford
MACON, Ga. – The trio of Amanda Thompson, KeKe Calloway and Shannon Titus combined for 62 points and led Mercer to a Southern-Conference opening 76-68 win over Samford in overtime at Hawkins Arena on Saturday.
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After the Bulldogs (5-11, 0-1 SoCon) hit a game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime, Mercer (9-7, 1-0) outscored them 12-4 in the extra five minutes, led by eight points from Calloway. Thompson tallied her sixth consecutive double-double and set a career-high in points scored (24) while Titus matched a career-high with 17 points.
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STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer has won 15 straight games against Samford, including 12 under head coach Susie Gardner.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Thompson's 24 points and 11 rebounds marked her eighth double-double of the season and sixth in as many games. The senior impressed yet again, scoring 18 of her 24 points in the first half. She added four steals as well.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Defense was the ingredient in the first quarter of play with neither team breaking through until a free throw by Thompson two minutes into the game. Both teams traded three-point leads through the first 10 minutes but could not grow any separation from one another. Calloway led the Bears in scoring with four points, including a fast break layup assisted by LaKaitlin Wright in her season debut. Thompson finished the opening quarter with three points and three assists as Mercer trailed 11-10.
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The second quarter was the Thompson Show as the senior captain scored 15 of Mercer's 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. The Bears outscored the Bulldogs 17-10 in the second quarter, building a 27-22 lead heading into the locker room. Thompson pushed her game totals to 18 points and six rebounds heading into the intermission, while Calloway accounted for five points and three boards.
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The Bears scored the first seven points of the third quarter capped off by a Linnea Rosendal three to push the Mercer lead to 34-22, forcing a Samford timeout. The Bulldogs would not go away, retaliating with a 13-4 run to close the Bears' lead to just three with under five minutes to play in the third frame. Both defenses picked up the intensity in the closing minutes with Mercer outscoring Samford 5-4 for the four-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
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The two teams upped the intensity in the fourth quarter, combining for 46 points in 10 minutes. Mercer held a six-point lead, 60-54, with 2:14 remaining, but a pivotal three-pointer by Samford's Ta'Naisha Hill brought the Bulldogs within three points with 1:41 on the clock. After a free throw by Calloway extended Mercer's lead back to six points (63-57), Samford scored seven of the final nine points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Paige Serup, to force overtime.
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Calloway led the charge in overtime, scoring eight of Mercer's 12 points while the Bears held Samford without a field goal in the period. Mercer opened the final five-minute period on a 7-0 run. Titus added four points on a layup and pair of free throws.
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NOTABLES
» Saturday was Mercer's first overtime game since Jan. 9, 2016.
» Mercer has won 15 straight games against Samford, including 12 under head coach Susie Gardner.
» The Bears improve to 5-0 in SoCon openers and 7-2 in conference openers under Coach Gardner.
» Thompson has scored at least 16 points in six consecutive games. She has totaled 20-plus in three of those contests.
» The Bears scored 29 points off of 22 Samford turnovers.
» LaKaitlin Wright made her season debut, logging two points, one assist and one steal in six minutes.
» Titus' 17 points matched a career-high. She added eight rebounds, four of which were offensive.
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COACH'S CORNER
On her team's resilience at the end of the game:
"It's tough when your opponent hits a shot at the buzzer and takes that momentum to the bench heading into overtime. It's tricky for the coaches in that moment. We hadn't been in this situation before this season, so I was really please with those final five minutes of play."
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On how her team's energy seemed throughout the game:
"I thought our effort and energy was great today. We had a great bench and showed more emotion on the court; I think a team plays better when it shows that kind of emotion and when you're happy for your teammates. That's a sign of selflessness. It was a great display of intensity."
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RECORDS UPDATE
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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After the Bulldogs (5-11, 0-1 SoCon) hit a game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime, Mercer (9-7, 1-0) outscored them 12-4 in the extra five minutes, led by eight points from Calloway. Thompson tallied her sixth consecutive double-double and set a career-high in points scored (24) while Titus matched a career-high with 17 points.
Â
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer has won 15 straight games against Samford, including 12 under head coach Susie Gardner.
Â
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Thompson's 24 points and 11 rebounds marked her eighth double-double of the season and sixth in as many games. The senior impressed yet again, scoring 18 of her 24 points in the first half. She added four steals as well.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Defense was the ingredient in the first quarter of play with neither team breaking through until a free throw by Thompson two minutes into the game. Both teams traded three-point leads through the first 10 minutes but could not grow any separation from one another. Calloway led the Bears in scoring with four points, including a fast break layup assisted by LaKaitlin Wright in her season debut. Thompson finished the opening quarter with three points and three assists as Mercer trailed 11-10.
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The second quarter was the Thompson Show as the senior captain scored 15 of Mercer's 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. The Bears outscored the Bulldogs 17-10 in the second quarter, building a 27-22 lead heading into the locker room. Thompson pushed her game totals to 18 points and six rebounds heading into the intermission, while Calloway accounted for five points and three boards.
Â
The Bears scored the first seven points of the third quarter capped off by a Linnea Rosendal three to push the Mercer lead to 34-22, forcing a Samford timeout. The Bulldogs would not go away, retaliating with a 13-4 run to close the Bears' lead to just three with under five minutes to play in the third frame. Both defenses picked up the intensity in the closing minutes with Mercer outscoring Samford 5-4 for the four-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
Â
The two teams upped the intensity in the fourth quarter, combining for 46 points in 10 minutes. Mercer held a six-point lead, 60-54, with 2:14 remaining, but a pivotal three-pointer by Samford's Ta'Naisha Hill brought the Bulldogs within three points with 1:41 on the clock. After a free throw by Calloway extended Mercer's lead back to six points (63-57), Samford scored seven of the final nine points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Paige Serup, to force overtime.
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Calloway led the charge in overtime, scoring eight of Mercer's 12 points while the Bears held Samford without a field goal in the period. Mercer opened the final five-minute period on a 7-0 run. Titus added four points on a layup and pair of free throws.
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NOTABLES
» Saturday was Mercer's first overtime game since Jan. 9, 2016.
» Mercer has won 15 straight games against Samford, including 12 under head coach Susie Gardner.
» The Bears improve to 5-0 in SoCon openers and 7-2 in conference openers under Coach Gardner.
» Thompson has scored at least 16 points in six consecutive games. She has totaled 20-plus in three of those contests.
» The Bears scored 29 points off of 22 Samford turnovers.
» LaKaitlin Wright made her season debut, logging two points, one assist and one steal in six minutes.
» Titus' 17 points matched a career-high. She added eight rebounds, four of which were offensive.
Â
COACH'S CORNER
On her team's resilience at the end of the game:
"It's tough when your opponent hits a shot at the buzzer and takes that momentum to the bench heading into overtime. It's tricky for the coaches in that moment. We hadn't been in this situation before this season, so I was really please with those final five minutes of play."
Â
On how her team's energy seemed throughout the game:
"I thought our effort and energy was great today. We had a great bench and showed more emotion on the court; I think a team plays better when it shows that kind of emotion and when you're happy for your teammates. That's a sign of selflessness. It was a great display of intensity."
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RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 9-7, 1-0
- Samford: 5-11, 0-1
- Mercer at Western Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. at Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C.
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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