Bears Drop Contest at Western Carolina

Saturday, February 1

Cullowhee, N.C.

2 P.M.

Mercer University

4-18,1-6SoCon

Western Carolina

4-18,1-6SoCon

Mercer

Western Caro.

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

2/1/2020 7:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer fell to 1-6 in the Southern Conference.

By: Stephen Waldman

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Mercer women's basketball team fell to the Western Carolina Catamounts, 51-40, on Saturday afternoon.

Shannon Titus posted team highs with nine points, 13 rebounds and five steals in the game, while Jaron Dougherty added eight points and seven rebounds. Sierra Votaw contributed four points and five rebounds as well. Tia Benvenuti also came off the bench to score six points.

The Bears struggled to shoot the ball, finishing with a 29.5 percent (18-of-61) field goal percentage while going 0-11 from downtown. After making a 3-pointer in 62 consecutive games, Mercer has been held without a make from beyond-the-arc in two-of-the-last-three games.

How It Happened
Mercer dug itself a hole early as Western Carolina scored the first eight points of the game in the first 3:16. The two sides battled back and forth throughout the remainder of the first half with the Catamounts increasing its lead to 10 points by halftime, 24-14. The Bears were unable to get their offense going in the first half, shooting 21.4 percent (3-of-14) in each of the first two quarters.

The Bears managed to cut the deficit to six points, but an ensuing 10-1 run by Western Carolina pushed the home team into a 15-point advantage. Mercer was unable to recover.

Notables
» Mercer scored its fewest points in a game since an 83-40 loss to No. 7 Florida State on Dec. 21, 2016.
» It was the fewest points in a conference game since Jan. 21, 2012, when the Bears scored 39 against North Florida in A-Sun action.
» Titus recorded five steals in a game for the fifth time this season and third in the last four games.

Up Next
Mercer begins a three-game homestand next week as it hosts Wofford and Furman. The Bears will square off against the Terriers on Thursday at 7 p.m. before challenging the Paladins on Saturday at 2 p.m. Both games are set to air on the ESPN networks.

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.