Bears Fall to UNCG in Home Finale

Saturday, February 29

Macon, Ga.

2 P.M.

Mercer University

UNCG

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

2/29/2020 9:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jaron Dougherty reached double digit points for the 20th time this season.

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team fell in its regular season finale against UNCG, 60-50, on Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Arena.

Mercer once again took care of the rock this afternoon with its fifth game with single digit turnovers. The Bears finished the game with an 18-9 edge in the turnover battle while forcing 10 steals. The defense limited UNCG to shooting 37.7 percent (20-of-53) in the game, although the Spartans managed to make 53.3 percent (8-of-15) of their 3-point attempts.

Jaron Dougherty scored a team-high 19 points while collecting seven rebounds. Shannon Titus added 14 points, six rebounds and five steals while dishing out three assists and blocking two shots. Summer Pahl had another solid game on the boards as she gathered a game-high 13 total rebounds and nine on the offensive glass, in addition to setting a new personal best with four assists. She added three steals in the game. Rookie Jill Harris posted her second double-digit point game with 10 points with a season-high five field goals. The Navarre, Fla., native dished out a game-high five assists and collected four rebounds.

How It Happened
The Bears' offense got off to a fast start by making three of their first five shots to take a 7-2 lead. Mercer extended its lead to 11-2 by the 3:06 mark after back-to-back jumpers by Harris and ended the first quarter with a 13-6 edge.

The visitors began the second quarter with a 12-4 run to erase the Mercer lead and take an 18-17 edge. The two sides traded baskets throughout the remaining 6:39 of the opening half as UNCG took a four-point lead into the break.

Both teams continued to go back-and-forth until Mercer used a 6-0 run to retake the lead at 39-37. UNCG ended up scoring the final five points of the period to lead, 44-42, heading into the final 10 minutes of the regular season. The Bears managed to tie the game back up at 46 all, but a quick 7-0 run by UNCG pushed the visitors back into the lead. The Spartans made all six of their free throws down the stretch to hang on for the win.

Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
On the team's effort…
"I thought we battled. It was back and forth with the ties and the lead changing as much as it did throughout the game. We fought hard. I thought Summer [Pahl] did an amazing job hustling to get as many as she did, especially the nine she got on the offensive end. We just don't have enough scorers who can put the ball in the hole. I really appreciate the effort that everyone gave today, but, at the same time, sometimes the fundamentals (free throws, layups, jumpers) have to come through."

On Shannon's work on the defensive end of the floor…
"She's a great defender. She's longer than most guards in our league which helps her, but she has great anticipation and works extremely hard. She has good length which affords her the opportunity to block shots and get out in passing lanes. She brings great energy to our team, and I'm very appreciative of the effort she puts in the defensive end. Not everyone understands the importance of playing good defense, but Shannon certainly does."

On message to the team heading into the SoCon Tournament…
"The season is over. That's the message. It's time to move into March, and right now anyone has an opportunity. We've got the same chance as anyone else in Asheville."

Player of the Game
Pahl continued to crash the boards hard for the second straight game in which she set a career high in rebounds. The Kitchener, Ontario, native brought down 13 rebounds against the Spartans, including nine on the offensive glass. Additionally, Pahl dished out a career high four assists and generated three steals.

Notables
» Mercer committed a season-low nine turnovers for the fifth time this season.
» Titus moved into a tie with Christy Cogley for third place on Mercer's single season steals list with 81.
» Titus is also tied with Teanna Robinson for fourth in program history with 55 blocks this year.
» Dougherty reached double-digit points for the 20th time this season.
» UNCG's six points in the first quarter marked the fifth time Mercer held an opponent to six points in a quarter this season.
» Pahl set new career highs in rebounds (13) and assists (4).

Up Next
The Bears open the Southern Conference Tournament as the seven seed and will take on No. 2 seed Chattanooga on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Hararah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, N.C.

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.