Mercer Falls to Florida in Road Tilt

Tuesday, December 17

Gainesville, Fla.

7 P.M.

Mercer University

3-8,0-0SoCon

Florida

7-3,0-0SEC

Mercer

Florida

12/17/2019 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer did not have a player reach double-digit points for the first time in 35 games.

By: Stephen Waldman

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Mercer Women's Basketball team fell to the Florida Gators, 71-50, in a road test on Tuesday from the Stephen O'Connell Center.

The Bears struggled offensively shooting 28.8 percent (19-of-66) from the floor and failed to have a player reach double figures in points for the first time in 35 games since Nov. 18, 2018 against UCF. The Gators managed to make 10 shots from long range and shot 32.3 percent (10-of-31) from 3-point range while outrebounding Mercer, 56-35.

Mercer forced Florida to turn the ball over 21 times; drawing 10 steals off the Gators' miscues.

Shannon Titus netted a team-high eight points along with seven rebounds and five steals, while Tia Benvenuti and Summer Pahl added seven points each. Benvenuti collected four rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Pahl brought down a career-high 11 boards in the game. Emily Stradling provided a spark off the bench as well for the Bears, scoring six points on 2-of-3 shooting from long range and tallying two rebounds in 12 minutes of action.

How It Happened
Dougherty was the beneficiary of two early turnovers by the Gators by scoring the first two baskets off steals from Shannon Titus and Jill Harris in the first minute of the game. Once the home team found the bottom of the net, however, their offense came to life by going 9-of-13 on a 22-6 run over a 7:19 stretch. Kristina Moore hit consecutive treys for Florida to start the run and led the team to shoot 4-of-5 from beyond-the-arc.

The two sides battled back-and-forth through the early parts of the second quarter before a 12-2 run by the Gators closed the half handed them a 44-26 advantage at the break.

Mercer's offense came to life in the middle of the third quarter when the visitors went on a 14-7 run thanks to 5-of-9 shooting. Sophomore Emily Stradling closed out the run with the first two 3-point makes of her career, going back-to-back just 26 seconds apart.

Florida managed to contain the Bears in the final period and held on for the win.

Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
Summer Pahl's performance…
"I felt that Summer gave her all every second of the game. I was proud of her no-quit attitude and hustle."

Player of the Game
Pahl's energy and attitude on the floor resulted in one of the most complete performances of the sophomore's young career. The Kitchener, Ontario, native set career highs in points (7) by getting to the charity stripe a personal best eight times, converting on five of them. Pahl also collected her first game with double-digit rebounds with 11 boards on the evening.

Notables
» Mercer did not have a player reach double figure points for the first time since Nov. 18, 2018 against UCF.
» The Bears shot under 30 percent for just the second time this season.
» Stradling connected on her first career 3-pointer.
» Pahl set career highs in points (7), free throws made (5), free throws attempted (8) and rebounds (11).
» Titus recorded at least five steals for the second time this year.

Up Next
The Bears return home to face Gardner-Webb for a 5 p.m. tipoff on Friday at Hawkins Arena. The game will be the first stanza of a Bears' basketball doubleheader as the men's team follows with its first SoCon game against Furman at 7:30 p.m.

Prior to the doubleheader, the athletic department will officially introduce new Mercer head football coach Drew Cronic with a press conference at 4 p.m. at Heritage Hall in the University Center.

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.