Thursday, January 17
Cullowhee, N.C.
5 P.M.
Mercer University
10-7, 2-0
69
at
67
Western Carolina
3-14, 0-3
1
2
3
4
F
Mercer
22
25
10
12
69
Western Caro.
12
16
20
19
67
Team Stats
MER
WCU
FG%
.375
.500
3FG%
.269
.348
FT%
.727
.500
RB
42
37
TO
15
23
STL
13
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Claws out Victory over Catamounts
1/17/2019 7:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bears defeat Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. behind Thompson’s seventh consecutive double-double
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Mercer Women's Basketball team improved to 2-0 in Southern Conference action today with a 69-67 win over the Catamounts of Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. Mercer posted four players in double figures as the Bears improve to 10-7, securing their seventh consecutive season with double-digit wins.
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KeKe Calloway led all scorers tonight with 19 points, knocking down four threes in the game. Amanda Thompson finished with her seventh consecutive double-double behind 10 points and 16 rebounds. Shannon Titus chipped in for 11, while Rachel Selph added 10 of her own.
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STAT OF THE GAME
The Bears corralled 42 rebounds on the evening, outrebounding the Catamounts by five. Thompson led all players with 16 boards, nine on the offensive glass and seven on the defensive front.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Thompson once again has grabbed a double-double, her seventh consecutive and ninth of the season. The senior captain finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds, leading all players in boards.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer controlled the tempo in the first quarter, jumping out to an 8-4 lead as Titus registered five of first eight points for the Bears. After Western Carolina trimmed the gap to 8-7, Mercer responded with a 10-0 run that was capped off by Calloway's second three of the game. The Catamounts cut into the double-digit lead twice but the Bears responded well, leading 22-12 at the break.
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The Bears kicked off the second quarter on an 11-2 run to stretch their lead to 33-14, forcing a Catamount timeout. Calloway scored seven points during the run, including the timeout-forcing jumper from the free throw line. Mercer did not allow Western Carolina to come within 16 points in the closing minutes of the first half, carrying a 47-28 advantage into the locker room.
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The Catamounts played with nothing to lose in the second half, coming out of the gate and outscoring the Bears 20-10 in the third quarter. Mercer held on to the double-digit lead until a Western Carolina three with five seconds trimmed the Bears' lead to just nine. Five different Bears registered a basket in the third frame.
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The Catamounts cut the Mercer lead to one possession early in the fourth quarter after scoring the first six points of the final frame. The Bears held tight to the lead and pushed it back to seven with 4:38 left to play following a jumper by Thompson. Western Carolina would not go away quietly, hitting a three with 35 seconds left to knot the game at 67 apiece. Thompson came up big in the closing seconds, grabbing an offensive rebound before being fouled on the ensuing put-back layup. The North Carolina native buried the first free throw to clinch the double-double and give Mercer the one-point lead. Despite missing the second attempt, Thompson was not done being the spark plug. Once again proving that hustle plays are the difference, Thompson forced a jump ball with Jewel Small as the Catamount was driving to the rim for the potential go-ahead basket with five seconds left, giving the possession back to the Bears. Calloway stepped up to hit one of two free throws and that was all she wrote as the Catamounts' full-court attempt fell way short.
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NOTABLES
COACH'S CORNER
Final thoughts on the game:
"At halftime I was not very happy with our team defense, so you can imagine that I was about 10 times less happy with our team defense in the second half. We were up 19 at halftime and we challenged them to play better defensively. We were outscored 39-22 in the second half. We had the opportunity to put a team away and let them come back and tie up the game."
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On the resilience of Amanda Thompson:
"Amanda came up big the entire game for us. She had the big jump ball at the end, the offensive tip where they fouled her and put her at the free throw line. We just need a few more helpers. Amanda willed us to win once again."
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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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KeKe Calloway led all scorers tonight with 19 points, knocking down four threes in the game. Amanda Thompson finished with her seventh consecutive double-double behind 10 points and 16 rebounds. Shannon Titus chipped in for 11, while Rachel Selph added 10 of her own.
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STAT OF THE GAME
The Bears corralled 42 rebounds on the evening, outrebounding the Catamounts by five. Thompson led all players with 16 boards, nine on the offensive glass and seven on the defensive front.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Amanda Thompson once again has grabbed a double-double, her seventh consecutive and ninth of the season. The senior captain finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds, leading all players in boards.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer controlled the tempo in the first quarter, jumping out to an 8-4 lead as Titus registered five of first eight points for the Bears. After Western Carolina trimmed the gap to 8-7, Mercer responded with a 10-0 run that was capped off by Calloway's second three of the game. The Catamounts cut into the double-digit lead twice but the Bears responded well, leading 22-12 at the break.
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The Bears kicked off the second quarter on an 11-2 run to stretch their lead to 33-14, forcing a Catamount timeout. Calloway scored seven points during the run, including the timeout-forcing jumper from the free throw line. Mercer did not allow Western Carolina to come within 16 points in the closing minutes of the first half, carrying a 47-28 advantage into the locker room.
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The Catamounts played with nothing to lose in the second half, coming out of the gate and outscoring the Bears 20-10 in the third quarter. Mercer held on to the double-digit lead until a Western Carolina three with five seconds trimmed the Bears' lead to just nine. Five different Bears registered a basket in the third frame.
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The Catamounts cut the Mercer lead to one possession early in the fourth quarter after scoring the first six points of the final frame. The Bears held tight to the lead and pushed it back to seven with 4:38 left to play following a jumper by Thompson. Western Carolina would not go away quietly, hitting a three with 35 seconds left to knot the game at 67 apiece. Thompson came up big in the closing seconds, grabbing an offensive rebound before being fouled on the ensuing put-back layup. The North Carolina native buried the first free throw to clinch the double-double and give Mercer the one-point lead. Despite missing the second attempt, Thompson was not done being the spark plug. Once again proving that hustle plays are the difference, Thompson forced a jump ball with Jewel Small as the Catamount was driving to the rim for the potential go-ahead basket with five seconds left, giving the possession back to the Bears. Calloway stepped up to hit one of two free throws and that was all she wrote as the Catamounts' full-court attempt fell way short.
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NOTABLES
- With the win, Mercer improves to 10-7 on the season and 2-0 in league play.
- The Bears improve to 15-0 all-time against Western Carolina, while head coach Susie Gardner improves to 11-0 against the Catamounts.
- Thompson notched her ninth double-double and seventh in-a-row following her 10-point, 16-rebound outing.
- Thompson passes Tracy Henry for the seventh-most rebounds in program history with 793.
- Calloway led all scorers with 19 points, knocking down four threes for the first time since burying five against Florida State (Dec. 5).
- Shannon Titus finished one rebound shy of the double-double, tying her career high with nine boards.
- The Bears improve to 5-0 on the season when four or more players score in double figures.
COACH'S CORNER
Final thoughts on the game:
"At halftime I was not very happy with our team defense, so you can imagine that I was about 10 times less happy with our team defense in the second half. We were up 19 at halftime and we challenged them to play better defensively. We were outscored 39-22 in the second half. We had the opportunity to put a team away and let them come back and tie up the game."
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On the resilience of Amanda Thompson:
"Amanda came up big the entire game for us. She had the big jump ball at the end, the offensive tip where they fouled her and put her at the free throw line. We just need a few more helpers. Amanda willed us to win once again."
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RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 10-7, 2-0
- Western Carolina: 3-14, 0-3
NEXT GAME
- Mercer at UNCG on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. at Fleming Gym in Greensboro, N.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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