Titus, Dougherty Double-Doubles Not Enough in Loss to GW

Friday, December 20

Macon, Ga.

5 P.M.

Mercer University

3-9,0-0SoCon

Gardner-Webb

5-3,0-0Big South

Gardner-Webb

Mercer

Titus, Dougherty Double-Doubles Not Enough in Loss to GW

12/20/2019 10:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Shannon Titus and Jaron Dougherty recorded double-doubles against the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team was unable to take advantage of double-doubles from Shannon Titus and Jaron Dougherty as the Bears dropped a hard-fought 65-62 decision to Gardner-Webb on Friday evening at Hawkins Arena.

While the Bears lost the turnover battle, 22-16, for just the third time this year, they recorded at least 20 assists for just the second time and shot 41.0 percent (25-of-61) from the floor and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond-the-arc. The Orange and Black also outrebounded GW, 37-34, while generating eight steals and four blocks.

Defensively, Mercer limited Gardner-Webb to shoot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor. The Runnin' Bulldogs capitalized on their free throw opportunities, however, going 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) from the charity stripe. Additionally, GW hit eight treys at a rate of 40.0 percent and garnered 16 second-chance points off 12 offensive rebounds.

Dougherty posted her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds, marking her fourth 20-point performance of the year as well. Titus finished with 10 points and 10 boards for her third double-double of the season and contributed two assists and a steal. Amoria Neal-Tysor finished with 12 points and an assist, going 5-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Summer Pahl totaled eight points and collected five boards, while Jill Harris and Tia Benvenuti dished out a team-high five assists.

How It Happened
The two sides jostled back and forth for the lead all night with neither team owning a double-digit lead in the game. While Gardner-Webb held the advantage throughout most of the contest, the Bears were always within striking distance.

Mercer clawed its way back to even the score with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter thanks to a layup from Titus, but an ensuing 7-0 run by the visitors put the Bears in a hole with five minutes remaining in the game. Not to be deterred, the home squad made it a one-possession game after back-to-back jumpers by Dougherty trimmed it to a three-point deficit with just under three minutes left.

Gardner-Webb made a pair of free throws to make it a five-point game, but another pair of jumpers by Hill and Dougherty changed it to a one-point game with 1:21 on the clock. GW continued to hit its free throws down the stretch, however, making 5-of-6 to hang on for the victory. Mercer never surrendered until the final buzzer, however, with a trey from Dougherty with seven seconds remaining and a game-tying 3-point attempt from Benvenuti at the final buzzer.

Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
On Jaron's performance…
"We're still searching for that go to player, and we were trying to go to Shannon. She was making some passes instead of shooting the ball so we just started go to Jaron. She hit a big two and the last play she shot the three in the corner so maybe she is emerging as that got to scorer. However, she has to be a little more consistent because in the Florida game, I couldn't play her because of her inconsistency. We're still searching, but tonight she was that go to weapon on offense."

On closing the gap at the end of the game…
"It's the story of the year so far. What we've been doing in the past is winning those close games. We used to get the big rebounds, and tonight we just weren't able to come away with the rebounds in key situations. I did tell them that I was proud of them for cutting it to three and getting a three-pointer off at the buzzer, but we blew 14 or 15 seconds when we didn't foul them after they got the offensive rebound. It's just all the little things that add up to big things."

Player of the Game
Dougherty documented her fourth double-double of the season by setting game highs in points (21) and rebounds (13). The Buford, Ga., native added two assists, two steals and a block in the contest, while breaking the 20-point plateau for the fourth time in her sophomore campaign.

Notables
» Mercer fell to 2-3 in the month of December.
» The Bears dished out 21 assists, the second-highest single game total this season.
» Titus and Dougherty became the first Mercer duo to both record a double-double in the same game since Jan. 26 when Titus and Amanda Thompson accomplished the feat against ETSU.
» Dougherty recorded her fourth double-double and fourth 20-point performance.
» Dougherty brought down her 125th career rebound.
» Titus tallied her third double-double of the year and fifth of her career.
» Titus recorded her 100th assist and 100th steal.
» Benvenuti documented her 75th career assist.

Up Next
The Bears will have an eight-day hiatus between games as their next contest is on Dec. 29 when they welcome Jacksonville to Hawkins Arena.

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.