Saturday, February 23
Chattanooga, Tenn.
2 P.M.
Mercer University
20-7, 12-0SoCon
62
at
56
Chattanooga
12-15, 7-5SoCon
1
2
3
4
F
Mercer
13
14
21
14
62
Chattanooga
12
15
17
12
56
Team Stats
MER
UTC
FG%
.397
.359
3FG%
.125
.125
FT%
.846
.900
RB
38
41
TO
6
10
STL
7
3
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Mercer Clinches Outright SoCon Title at Chattanooga
2/23/2019 7:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bears remain undefeated in conference play with 62-56 victory
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Mercer claimed the outright Southern Conference regular season title and remained undefeated in league play with a 62-56 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday at McKenzie Arena.
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The Bears (20-7, 12-0 SoCon) have won at least a share of four consecutive SoCon regular season titles – the most recent pair have been outright – dating back to the 2015-16 season. Saturday's win was Mercer's fourth straight against Chattanooga (12-15, 7-5).
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Stat of the Game
Mercer hit six of eight free throw attempts in the final minute, including four in a row to end the game, sealing its road win over Chattanooga. Rachel Selph and Amanda Thompson made two apiece over the final 16 seconds. The Bears were 11-of-13 overall from the free throw line.
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Player of the Game
Amanda Thompson scored 18 points and added nine rebounds to lead the Bears on Saturday. The senior scored 10 of her 18 points in the second half. Thompson has scored double figures in 10 of Mercer's 12 SoCon games this season.
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How It Happened
Mercer jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first quarter before Chattanooga rallied with eight of the final 10 points to make it a 13-12 contest through 10 minutes of play. The Mocs would take a 20-17 lead with 7:11 remaining in the first half before an eight-point run, highlighted by buckets from Rachel Selph, Thompson and Shannon Titus – pushed Mercer ahead 25-20. Chattanooga would tie the game at 27-27 by the intermission.
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A 21-point third quarter gave the Bears just enough separation from Chattanooga down the stretch. Mercer used a 12-6 run to end the frame and take a 48-44 lead into the final 10 minutes. The run started with the Bears trailing 38-36. A low-scoring fourth quarter came down to free throws, as Mercer hit six of eight at the line in the final minute of play. Mercer led by as many as 10 points with 5:30 left on the clock, but Chattanooga pulled within two points before the Bears put the game away with their free-throw shooting.
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Notables
» Mercer has won 32 consecutive SoCon regular season games.
» The most recent two of Mercer's four SoCon regular season titles have been won outright.
» KeKe Calloway scored a team-high 19 points.
» Rachel Selph was 4-for-4 from the field. She was 12-of-13 from the field in two wins this week.
» LaKaitlin Wright pulled down a team-leading 10 rebounds over 18 minutes played.
» Tia Benvenuti and Calloway both dished out three assists.
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Coach's Corner
Opening statement:
"I'm really proud of this team for all of the close games we've won throughout this season," said head coach Susie Gardner. "The ways we've won are a credit to being a true team; we don't rely on one single player every night and it's great to see different players step up when needed. To have won 32 straight SoCon games is great, but we're very proud of winning these past two titles outright."
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On winning multiple close games:
"We're battle tested. We always have someone new stepping up to make plays down the stretch. It's taxing on our coaching staff, but we all have the confidence in our players to make the plays needed to win the game."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 20-7 (12-0 SoCon)
» Chattanooga: 12-15 (7-5 SoCon)
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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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The Bears (20-7, 12-0 SoCon) have won at least a share of four consecutive SoCon regular season titles – the most recent pair have been outright – dating back to the 2015-16 season. Saturday's win was Mercer's fourth straight against Chattanooga (12-15, 7-5).
Â
Stat of the Game
Mercer hit six of eight free throw attempts in the final minute, including four in a row to end the game, sealing its road win over Chattanooga. Rachel Selph and Amanda Thompson made two apiece over the final 16 seconds. The Bears were 11-of-13 overall from the free throw line.
Â
Player of the Game
Amanda Thompson scored 18 points and added nine rebounds to lead the Bears on Saturday. The senior scored 10 of her 18 points in the second half. Thompson has scored double figures in 10 of Mercer's 12 SoCon games this season.
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How It Happened
Mercer jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first quarter before Chattanooga rallied with eight of the final 10 points to make it a 13-12 contest through 10 minutes of play. The Mocs would take a 20-17 lead with 7:11 remaining in the first half before an eight-point run, highlighted by buckets from Rachel Selph, Thompson and Shannon Titus – pushed Mercer ahead 25-20. Chattanooga would tie the game at 27-27 by the intermission.
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A 21-point third quarter gave the Bears just enough separation from Chattanooga down the stretch. Mercer used a 12-6 run to end the frame and take a 48-44 lead into the final 10 minutes. The run started with the Bears trailing 38-36. A low-scoring fourth quarter came down to free throws, as Mercer hit six of eight at the line in the final minute of play. Mercer led by as many as 10 points with 5:30 left on the clock, but Chattanooga pulled within two points before the Bears put the game away with their free-throw shooting.
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Notables
» Mercer has won 32 consecutive SoCon regular season games.
» The most recent two of Mercer's four SoCon regular season titles have been won outright.
» KeKe Calloway scored a team-high 19 points.
» Rachel Selph was 4-for-4 from the field. She was 12-of-13 from the field in two wins this week.
» LaKaitlin Wright pulled down a team-leading 10 rebounds over 18 minutes played.
» Tia Benvenuti and Calloway both dished out three assists.
Â
Coach's Corner
Opening statement:
"I'm really proud of this team for all of the close games we've won throughout this season," said head coach Susie Gardner. "The ways we've won are a credit to being a true team; we don't rely on one single player every night and it's great to see different players step up when needed. To have won 32 straight SoCon games is great, but we're very proud of winning these past two titles outright."
Â
On winning multiple close games:
"We're battle tested. We always have someone new stepping up to make plays down the stretch. It's taxing on our coaching staff, but we all have the confidence in our players to make the plays needed to win the game."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 20-7 (12-0 SoCon)
» Chattanooga: 12-15 (7-5 SoCon)
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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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