Thursday, February 21
Johnson City, Tenn.
7 P.M.
Mercer University
19-7, 11-0SoCon
83
at
77
ETSU
7-20, 5-6SoCon
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Mercer
25
15
18
17
8
83
ETSU
15
17
18
25
2
77
Team Stats
MER
ETSU
FG%
.514
.406
3FG%
.375
.250
FT%
.750
.792
RB
29
47
TO
10
18
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
12
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Bears Clinch Share of SoCon Title, Down ETSU
2/21/2019 10:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Titus’ career night leads Mercer past ETSU in overtime
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Mercer clinched at least a share of its fourth consecutive Southern Conference women's basketball regular season title as it defeated ETSU, 83-77, in overtime at J. Madison Brooks Gymnasium on Thursday.
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Sophomore guard Shannon Titus dropped a career-high 27 points and all five Mercer starters scored double figures as the Bears improved to 19-7 overall and 11-0 in SoCon play. Mercer outscored the host Bucs (7-20, 5-6) during the overtime period. The Bears have now won 31 consecutive SoCon regular season games and their senior class – KeKe Calloway, Rachel Selph, Ally Welch, Linnea Rosendal and Amanda Thompson – has earned at least a share of four conference regular season titles.
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Stat of the Game
Eighty-one of Mercer's 83 points were scored by its starting five, which fittingly featured four of Mercer's five seniors. The lone basket scored by a non-starter was from fellow senior Ally Welch off the bench.
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Player of the Game
Shannon Titus put her team on her back, scoring a career-high 27 points, including all eight of Mercer's points in overtime. The sophomore was 12-of-21 from the field and added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
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How It Happened
The Bears shot 70 percent from the field (12-of-17) in the first quarter and jumped out to a 10-point advantage, 25-15. After Linnea Rosendal, Rachel Selph and Welch hit Mercer's first three shots, it was Titus' turn to light up the Bucs following a media timeout. Titus hit four shots for eight points during the first 10 minutes.
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ETSU's slow-burning rally started in the second quarter. The Bucs had a six-point run over a two-minute span early in the frame and scored nine of the final 14 points before halftime, cutting Mercer's lead to eight points at the intermission. Titus and Amanda Thompson had 12 points apiece at halftime as the Bears shot 55.9 percent in the first half.
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The Bucs pulled within one point of Mercer on a three-pointer by Raven Dean with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Mercer respond swiftly to the Bucs' run, however, closing out the quarter with 11 of the final 15 points scored by both teams. KeKe Calloway was at the forefront of the scoring barrage, dropping nine of her 14 points over a three-minute span. Mercer led 58-50 heading into the fourth quarter.
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A 25-point fourth quarter by ETSU tied the game and sent it to overtime. Amanda Thompson, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, fouled out of the game with 2:31 to play in regulation. The Bucs would tie the game again at 68 moments after Thompson fouled out, and eventually took their first lead of the game with 1:40 on the clock. Titus (4), Selph (2) and Rosendal (2) scored Mercer's final eight points down the stretch before the Bucs hit two free throws with four seconds left to force the overtime period.
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It was all Shannon Titus in overtime, as the sophomore scored all eight of Mercer's points on three jumpers and a pair of free throws. Outside of a layup with 3:14 on the clock to tie the game at 77-77, ETSU failed to score in the overtime period. Key blocks by Rosendal and Welch helped Mercer hold ETSU scoreless over the final 3:14 of the game.
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Notables
» Mercer has won at least a share of four consecutive SoCon regular season titles. The Bears are 49-4 in SoCon regular season games during that stretch.
» The win was Mercer's 31th consecutive SoCon regular-season victory.
» Mercer improved to 21-18 all-time against ETSU with its eighth straight win against the Bucs.
» Rachel Selph was 8-of-9 from the field and finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
» KeKe Calloway dished out a team-high seven assists.
» The Bears shot 51.4 percent from the field.
» Mercer pulled off the road win despite being out-rebounded 47-29.
» Mercer out-scored ETSU 19-11 off of turnovers.
» Mercer handed ETSU its first home loss in SoCon play this season.
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Coach's Corner
Opening statement:
"I'm proud of our team for finding a way to win a really hard-fought game on the road," said head coach Susie Gardner. "ETSU killed us on the glass, specifically with 22 offensive rebounds, which were two more than we had on the defensive side. We got an early lead, but they beat us inside the majority of the game.
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"We aren't used to seeing Amanda [Thompson] foul out, so it was great to see us respond and find a way to win without one of our most important players. Amanda is our glue and a lot of our offense runs through her. KeKe [Calloway] did a great job of hitting some big baskets and toward the end made a great decision to find Shannon [Titus] on a backdoor cut in overtime. Obviously, Shannon was impressive all game."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 19-7 (11-0 SoCon)
» ETSU: 7-20 (5-6 SoCon)
Next Game
The Bears continue their trek through the state of Tennessee and will face Chattanooga at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.
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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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Sophomore guard Shannon Titus dropped a career-high 27 points and all five Mercer starters scored double figures as the Bears improved to 19-7 overall and 11-0 in SoCon play. Mercer outscored the host Bucs (7-20, 5-6) during the overtime period. The Bears have now won 31 consecutive SoCon regular season games and their senior class – KeKe Calloway, Rachel Selph, Ally Welch, Linnea Rosendal and Amanda Thompson – has earned at least a share of four conference regular season titles.
Â
Stat of the Game
Eighty-one of Mercer's 83 points were scored by its starting five, which fittingly featured four of Mercer's five seniors. The lone basket scored by a non-starter was from fellow senior Ally Welch off the bench.
Â
Player of the Game
Shannon Titus put her team on her back, scoring a career-high 27 points, including all eight of Mercer's points in overtime. The sophomore was 12-of-21 from the field and added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Â
How It Happened
The Bears shot 70 percent from the field (12-of-17) in the first quarter and jumped out to a 10-point advantage, 25-15. After Linnea Rosendal, Rachel Selph and Welch hit Mercer's first three shots, it was Titus' turn to light up the Bucs following a media timeout. Titus hit four shots for eight points during the first 10 minutes.
Â
ETSU's slow-burning rally started in the second quarter. The Bucs had a six-point run over a two-minute span early in the frame and scored nine of the final 14 points before halftime, cutting Mercer's lead to eight points at the intermission. Titus and Amanda Thompson had 12 points apiece at halftime as the Bears shot 55.9 percent in the first half.
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The Bucs pulled within one point of Mercer on a three-pointer by Raven Dean with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Mercer respond swiftly to the Bucs' run, however, closing out the quarter with 11 of the final 15 points scored by both teams. KeKe Calloway was at the forefront of the scoring barrage, dropping nine of her 14 points over a three-minute span. Mercer led 58-50 heading into the fourth quarter.
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A 25-point fourth quarter by ETSU tied the game and sent it to overtime. Amanda Thompson, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, fouled out of the game with 2:31 to play in regulation. The Bucs would tie the game again at 68 moments after Thompson fouled out, and eventually took their first lead of the game with 1:40 on the clock. Titus (4), Selph (2) and Rosendal (2) scored Mercer's final eight points down the stretch before the Bucs hit two free throws with four seconds left to force the overtime period.
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It was all Shannon Titus in overtime, as the sophomore scored all eight of Mercer's points on three jumpers and a pair of free throws. Outside of a layup with 3:14 on the clock to tie the game at 77-77, ETSU failed to score in the overtime period. Key blocks by Rosendal and Welch helped Mercer hold ETSU scoreless over the final 3:14 of the game.
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Notables
» Mercer has won at least a share of four consecutive SoCon regular season titles. The Bears are 49-4 in SoCon regular season games during that stretch.
» The win was Mercer's 31th consecutive SoCon regular-season victory.
» Mercer improved to 21-18 all-time against ETSU with its eighth straight win against the Bucs.
» Rachel Selph was 8-of-9 from the field and finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
» KeKe Calloway dished out a team-high seven assists.
» The Bears shot 51.4 percent from the field.
» Mercer pulled off the road win despite being out-rebounded 47-29.
» Mercer out-scored ETSU 19-11 off of turnovers.
» Mercer handed ETSU its first home loss in SoCon play this season.
Â
Coach's Corner
Opening statement:
"I'm proud of our team for finding a way to win a really hard-fought game on the road," said head coach Susie Gardner. "ETSU killed us on the glass, specifically with 22 offensive rebounds, which were two more than we had on the defensive side. We got an early lead, but they beat us inside the majority of the game.
Â
"We aren't used to seeing Amanda [Thompson] foul out, so it was great to see us respond and find a way to win without one of our most important players. Amanda is our glue and a lot of our offense runs through her. KeKe [Calloway] did a great job of hitting some big baskets and toward the end made a great decision to find Shannon [Titus] on a backdoor cut in overtime. Obviously, Shannon was impressive all game."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 19-7 (11-0 SoCon)
» ETSU: 7-20 (5-6 SoCon)
Next Game
The Bears continue their trek through the state of Tennessee and will face Chattanooga at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.
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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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