Mercer Falls to Georgia in Season Opener

Wednesday, November 25

Macon, Ga.

6 P.M.

Mercer University

0-1,0-0SoCon

Georgia

1-0,0-0SEC

Georgia

Mercer

Photo by: Alex Keller

11/25/2020 10:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer made eight three-pointers in the contest, matching its single-game high from last season.

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team opened its season with an 83-64 setback against Georgia at Hawkins Arena on Wednesday evening.

The Bears were unable to contain UGA's offense as the visiting Lady Bulldogs shot 60.4 percent from the floor, including 52 points in the paint. Mercer did manage to force 20 turnovers in the game, marking the second straight game against UGA that the Bears forced 20 giveaways. On the opposite end of the floor, Mercer shot 36.4 percent (24-of-66) for the game, including 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from long range. The Bears' eight treys tied their single game high from a season ago when they made eight at Appalachian State.

Individually, Amoria Neal-Tysor dropped a game-high 22 points, while Jada Lewis scored 12 points in her Mercer debut. The duo dished out a team-high three assists apiece, while Lewis generated three of the Bears' eight steals in the game. Shannon Titus brought down a game-high seven rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.

How It Happened
The visitors started the game quickly, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first 1:55 of the contest. Mercer found some early success from beyond-the-arc, connecting on 4-of-6 3-point attempts to open the game., but the Lady Bulldogs continued to incrementally increase their lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the game, however, and carried a 28-14 lead into the second quarter. The two sides traded baskets throughout the majority of the second stanza as Mercer trailed at the break, 43-29.

Mercer managed to outscore Georgia in the third quarter, 21-20, and cut the deficit to single digits, but that is as close as the home side would come in the second half of the game as the Lady Bulldogs went on to win the game, 83-64.

Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
On rating the team's performance…
"Georgia is really good, and we really dug ourselves a hole in the first quarter. We played decently in the second and third quarters when we cut it to 10, and we had opportunities but we just couldn't get stops. They scored too easily and had too many easy layups. We didn't perform defensively like I hoped we would."

On the team's depth…
"The bright spots were our four new players. We didn't get the productivity that we were expecting to get from some of our returners from last year. On one hand that's a concern, but on the other hand it gives us hope that we have a lot more depth so when people aren't playing at their best we can actually substitute and not keep people in the game."

Player of the Game
Amoria Neal-Tysor was fearless when it came to shooting the ball tonight as she made 9-of-24 attempts from the field and scored a game-high 22 points. The Sanford, N.C., native made four 3-pointers in the season opener and eclipsed the 20-point mark for the sixth time in her career.

Notables
» Mercer's eight 3-pointers matched their single-game high from last season from Appalachian State on Nov. 29.
» Amoria Neal-Tysor reached double digit points for the 20th time in her career and recorded her sixth 20-point performance.
» Jada Lewis posted her 54th career double-digit point game and first in Mercer uniform.
» The Bears forced Georgia to commit 20 turnovers for the second straight meeting.
» Naomi Van Nes was a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor and finished with seven points, one shy of her career high.
» Freshman Eliza Snyder scored three points in her first collegiate game, draining a 3-pointer on her first shot of the game.
» Lewis, Van Nes, Snyder and Allie Thayne all made their Bears debuts tonight.

Up Next
The Bears return to action on Saturday when they welcome Tennessee State to Hawkins Arena for a 2 p.m. tilt. The game against the Tigers will be broadcast on ESPN+, as well as on the radio on the Mercer Sports Network (100.9 The Creek and SportsMic) with the Voice of the Bears, Rick Cameron, on the call.

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.