Gardner Reaches Milestone in Thrilling Home Win

Thursday, February 6

Macon, Ga.

7 P.M.

Mercer University

Wofford

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Gardner Reaches Milestone in Thrilling Home Win

2/6/2020 10:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Shannon Titus tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's basketball team held on for a thrilling 54-53 victory over Wofford Thursday evening at Hawkins Arena.

With the win, Head Women's Basketball Coach Susie Gardner earned the 350th victory of her career.

The Bears' defense came up huge tonight, especially when it came to defending the long ball. The Terriers, who came into tonight's game ranked 27th in the country in 3-point shooting percentage, were held to their third-lowest percentage of the season from downtown at 14.3 percent. It was just the third time this season Wofford was held to three of fewer makes from beyond-the-arc, while Mercer limited a team to three or fewer 3-pointers in a game for the sixth time this year.

Junior Shannon Titus was stellar on both ends of the floor, paving the way for the Bears with a 17-point, 10 rebound double-double. The Johns Creek, Ga., native added three blocks, two assists and two steals while being the primary defender on the SoCon's leading scorer, Chloe Wanink, who scored three points on 1-of-6 shooting.

Mercer saw three players finish with double-digit points with Titus, Jaron Dougherty (15 points) and Amoria Neal-Tysor (13 points). The Bears were active on the glass throughout the entire game with a season-high 52 rebounds, including 10 from both Titus and Sierra Votaw. Dougherty also totaled nine rebounds, while Neal-Tysor (7) and Summer Pahl (5) both collected at least five rebounds as well. Jill Harris and Neal-Tysor dished out a team-high four assists in the contest.

The Bears were active on the defensive end of the floor, blocking nine shots and causing seven steals. Titus and Dougherty led the way with three blocks apiece, while Votaw added two denials.

How It Happened
After Wofford scored the first basket of the game, Mercer went on a 9-4 run to take an early lead. The Bears' gained control of the lead by doing what they do best: running the floor. Mercer scored the final six points of that run on the fast break, including four points from Titus in transition.

The two sides were engaged in a highly-contested affair until the Bears reasserted their dominance with a 12-2 run over the final 7:02 of the first half to take a 31-22 advantage into the break. Mercer's defense came to life in the second quarter, limiting the Terriers to a 1-of-12 shooting slump to end the quarter. Wofford shot just 1-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half and was 0-of-7 in the second quarter.

The Terriers stormed back in the third quarter, utilizing a 9-0 run in their return from halftime to take a 32-31 lead. While Mercer was held without a make through its first eight shots of the second half, the Bears finished the third on a high note with a 10-2 run. The Orange and Black repaid Wofford for their early scoring streak in the period by scoring the final eight points of the quarter.

Both Mercer and Wofford battled throughout the fourth quarter with the Terriers remaining within arm's reach of the home side. A Da'ja Green free throw with 1:03 remaining cut Mercer's lead to two points, but her late attempt at tying the game with five seconds left did not fall with Pahl gathering the biggest rebound of the night. Pahl was then fouled and knocked down both free throws with three seconds left.

The Bears needed every point as Lilly Hatton banked in a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds on the clock to make things interesting and made it a one-point game (54-53), but the Bears were able to hang on for the victory.

Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
On the team's defensive effort against a good shooting Wofford team…
"Well we have Shannon Titus, and I think she's probably the best defender in the conference. She guards Chloe [Wanink] when we're in man, and I thought we did a good job with our triangle defense trying to deny her the ball. Wofford is a very good shooting team. They didn't shoot like they usually do, and we were fortunate that they missed some shots. I was pleased with the way we got up and down the floor."

On how active the team was on defense…
"I think it starts with Shannon. She gives us that defensive energy, and she's always guarding the other team's best guard. She plays the top of the triangle, and she just plays hard. That's how she has been practicing. If there's one player that could hang her head this season, it's Shannon because she has been a part of two championships and undefeated (in SoCon play) seasons. She's decided she's going to keep fighting. I am so proud of her. This has been a really tough year, but she's just continuing to be who she is."

Assistant Coach Ben Wierzba

Player of the Game
Titus captained the Bears to victory tonight, posting a game-high 17 points to go along with a team-high 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year. She finished 6-of-21 from the floor and added three blocks, two assists and two steals in the contest.

Notables
» Mercer has won 14 of the last 15 meetings against Wofford.
» The Bears set season highs in rebounds (52), offensive rebounds (19), defensive rebounds (33) and free throw attempts (27).
» Mercer recorded at least 50 rebounds in a game for the first time since Jan. 24, 2019, when it had 50 against Chattanooga.
» Mercer had fewer than 10 turnovers for the third time this season.
» The Bears held Chloe Winink, the leading scorer in the SoCon, to just three points.
» Titus' three blocks tonight brought her career total to 81, two shy of tying Andrea Congreaves for sixth all-time.
» Titus recorded her fourth double-double of the season and sixth of her career.
» Votaw collected a career-high 10 rebounds.

Up Next
The Bears continue their three-game home stand on Saturday with a matchup against Furman at 2 p.m. The game is the first half of a Mercer basketball doubleheader as the men will follow at 4:30 p.m. against ETSU.

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.