Thursday, February 4
Cullowhee, N.C.
6 P.M.
Mercer University
12-5,6-2SoCon
69
at
62
Western Carolina
5-11,2-4SoCon
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Mercer
15
3
17
24
10
69
Western Caro.
16
10
21
12
3
62
Photo by: Stephen Waldman
Bears Complete Fourth-Quarter Comeback; Top WCU in OT
2/4/2021 10:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sydneey Boykin scored a career-high 11 points in the victory
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Mercer women's basketball team erased an 11-point deficit in the final 4:41 of regulation as the Bears topped Western Carolina in overtime, 69-62, at the Ramsey Center.
The Bears, who trailed by as many as 16 points in the game, earned their first win of the season when trailing by double digits. Mercer had its transition offense working tonight as it converted Western Carolina's 24 turnovers into 28 points and 23 on the fast break.
Mercer saw three of its players score in double figures with senior Shannon Titus going for a team-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. Redshirt senior Jada Lewis chipped in with 13 points and a team-high five assists, while freshman Sydneey Boykin scored a season-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
The Catamounts offense ran through Nadia Marshall and Zanoria Cruz as the duo combined for 43 of the home team's 62 points in the game. Marshall tallied game highs with 26 points and 17 rebounds and shot 12-of-19 from the field, while Cruz finished with 17 points and seven boards.
How It Happened
The first 20 minutes of the game was a defensive struggle for both teams as Western Carolina led 26-18 at the break with the two sides combined to shoot under 30 percent in the opening half. Despite the Bears' offense coming to life for 17 points in the third quarter, the Catamounts extended their lead up to 12 points to start the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Mercer began to chip away at the double-digit deficit to start the fourth quarter, but Western Carolina seemed to always have an answer. WCU managed to keep the Bears at an arm's length as the visitors were unable to get closer than nine points until the waning minutes of the game.
The Bears faced an uphill battle with 4:41 on the clock as they trailed by 11 points, 57-46, following a layup by Marshall. Lewis knocked down a free throw to bring the visitors within 10 points before a steal by Boykin on the ensuing possession set up a transition score for Titus who finished through contact with 4:01 remaining. She converted at the charity stripe to make it a 57-50 game.
Mercer's defense pressured WCU into a turnover the next time down the floor and another jumper by Boykin brought the Bears within five with 3:24 remaining. After forcing a turnover and a miss on the Catamounts next two possessions, Lewis drained a pair of free throws to bring Mercer within striking distance as it was now a one-possession game, 57-54, with 2:06 left.
WCU added some momentary breathing room with a jumper from Cruz, but Lewis responded with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to trim the deficit to two. The Powder Springs, Ga., native gave up her body on the defensive end of the floor by drawing a charge and sending possession back to the Bears. The visitors took full advantage of their opportunity as Boykin knotted the game at 59-all with a md-range jumper from the elbow with 1:11 remaining. Boykin continued the trend on Mercer's defensive half court as she drew another charge against the Catamounts, sending the Bears' bench into an uproar knowing they had an opportunity to take their first lead since a 2-0 edge in the first few minutes of the contest.
Neither team scored over the final 71 seconds of regulation, but the momentum had swung in Mercer's favor following the 13-2 run over the final 4:41 of the fourth quarter. Despite the Catamounts scoring the first point of the overtime period thanks to a free throw by Cruz, the visiting side took the lead with a put-back jumper by Jaron Dougherty with 2:41 remaining and never looked back. Mercer pushed its lead to four points thanks to Lewis and Boykin before Marshall brought WCU back within one score. The Bears were unphased by the resistance, however, as they scored the final five points of the game to close out a 23-5 run over the final 9:41 of the game and completed the thrilling comeback victory.
Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
On the team's comeback in the final 4:41 of the game…
"I think we didn't panic. I was really proud of our defensive stops, and we had players who were not hitting shots earlier in the game hitting shots when we needed them to down the stretch. Everyone who played gave us something. Shannon [Titus] played great, and Naomi [Van Nes] and Sierra [Votaw] both had six points, but the hero of the game was Sydneey Boykin without question."
On Sydneey Boykin's impact…
"Sydneey continually works hard and always comes into the gym with a great attitude. We knew she was a great defensive player, and tonight they probably didn't know who she was because she's played so little this season. They were leaving her open and she was knocking down open shots.
"Her steals and charges really fired up the bench. To see someone that our team cares so much about have some individual success that led to team success really gave us a lift."
On the team's offensive struggles…
"It's very difficult when you go 1-for-11 in a quarter like we did in the second. We have got to quit having these stretches of not being able to hit shots as a team. We've got to become more efficient offensively like we were in the second half."
On Nadia Marshall…
"Marshall just lit us up. She didn't miss many shots, and she got to the offensive glass when she did miss. She was a great player tonight, and we'll need to watch some film to see who will match up best against her defensively."
Player of the Game
Sydneey Boykin provided a spark off the bench for Mercer in the second half and energized the rest of the team as the Bears completed the comeback victory. The Clarksville, Tenn., native reached double figures for the first time in her career, dropping 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. She finished with three steals, two assists, two rebounds and a block while also drawing a pair of key charges during the team's fourth-quarter comeback. She was the main catalyst during the team's strong fourth quarter, making a perfect 4-of-4 shots from the field and her lone free throw attempt for nine points.
Notables
» Mercer earned its first win when trailing by double digits this season.
» The Bears improved to 6-2 on the road.
» Mercer remained perfect on Thursdays (5-0), as well as in overtime games (3-0).
» The Bears posted their first win of the season when trailing with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
» Mercer had a player score at least 20 points for the 10th consecutive game, dating back to Dec. 18 at Western Kentucky.
» The Bears have mad multiple players in double figures in all 17 games this season and are 10-2 when three or more players score 10+ points.
» Shannon Titus scored a team-high 22 points for her fourth 20-point performance of the season.
» Titus scored 20-plus points for the third time in the last four games.
» Titus reached double figures for the 10th time this season and 55th time in her career.
» Titus passed Tracy Henry and Carrie Harper to move into 22nd place on Mercer's all-time scoring list with 1,067 career points.
» Titus documented her 200th career steal.
» Sydneey Boykin set season highs in points (11), field goals made (5), steals (3) and minutes played (26).
» Boykin scored in double figures for the first time in her career.
» Jill Harris has pulled down a season-high three rebounds in each of the last three games.
» Jada Lewis tallied double-digit points for the 13th game this season and 10th time in the last 11 contests.
» Lewis knocked down the 150th 3-pointer of her career.
» Lewis matched her season high with five assists for the fifth game this year.
» Sierra Votaw and Naomi Van Nes both scored six points off the bench in the first half.
» Allie Thayne recorded at least six rebounds for the third consecutive game.
Up Next
The Bears will close out their two-game set at Western Carolina on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup on ESPN+.
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.
The Bears, who trailed by as many as 16 points in the game, earned their first win of the season when trailing by double digits. Mercer had its transition offense working tonight as it converted Western Carolina's 24 turnovers into 28 points and 23 on the fast break.
Mercer saw three of its players score in double figures with senior Shannon Titus going for a team-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. Redshirt senior Jada Lewis chipped in with 13 points and a team-high five assists, while freshman Sydneey Boykin scored a season-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
The Catamounts offense ran through Nadia Marshall and Zanoria Cruz as the duo combined for 43 of the home team's 62 points in the game. Marshall tallied game highs with 26 points and 17 rebounds and shot 12-of-19 from the field, while Cruz finished with 17 points and seven boards.
How It Happened
The first 20 minutes of the game was a defensive struggle for both teams as Western Carolina led 26-18 at the break with the two sides combined to shoot under 30 percent in the opening half. Despite the Bears' offense coming to life for 17 points in the third quarter, the Catamounts extended their lead up to 12 points to start the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Mercer began to chip away at the double-digit deficit to start the fourth quarter, but Western Carolina seemed to always have an answer. WCU managed to keep the Bears at an arm's length as the visitors were unable to get closer than nine points until the waning minutes of the game.
The Bears faced an uphill battle with 4:41 on the clock as they trailed by 11 points, 57-46, following a layup by Marshall. Lewis knocked down a free throw to bring the visitors within 10 points before a steal by Boykin on the ensuing possession set up a transition score for Titus who finished through contact with 4:01 remaining. She converted at the charity stripe to make it a 57-50 game.
Sydneey's steal sets up Shannon for the score! 🙌#DefineYourMoment | @sydneeyboykin pic.twitter.com/Rn5yIWU5Sx
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) February 5, 2021
Mercer's defense pressured WCU into a turnover the next time down the floor and another jumper by Boykin brought the Bears within five with 3:24 remaining. After forcing a turnover and a miss on the Catamounts next two possessions, Lewis drained a pair of free throws to bring Mercer within striking distance as it was now a one-possession game, 57-54, with 2:06 left.
Boykin's ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ & ꜱʜᴏᴏᴛ ability makes it a 🖐️ point game! #DefineYourMoment | @sydneeyboykin pic.twitter.com/2UTFe0L16v
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) February 5, 2021
WCU added some momentary breathing room with a jumper from Cruz, but Lewis responded with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to trim the deficit to two. The Powder Springs, Ga., native gave up her body on the defensive end of the floor by drawing a charge and sending possession back to the Bears. The visitors took full advantage of their opportunity as Boykin knotted the game at 59-all with a md-range jumper from the elbow with 1:11 remaining. Boykin continued the trend on Mercer's defensive half court as she drew another charge against the Catamounts, sending the Bears' bench into an uproar knowing they had an opportunity to take their first lead since a 2-0 edge in the first few minutes of the contest.
𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙷𝙰𝙻 𝙻𝙴𝚆𝙸𝚂 STRIKES FROM THE TOP OF THE KEY! 🙌🙌#DefineYourMoment | @jada3x13 pic.twitter.com/ZzjH0vC0GV
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) February 5, 2021
SYDNEEY TIES THE GAME!!! 😤#DefineYourMoment | @sydneeyboykin pic.twitter.com/07VT6IsmUK
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) February 5, 2021
Neither team scored over the final 71 seconds of regulation, but the momentum had swung in Mercer's favor following the 13-2 run over the final 4:41 of the fourth quarter. Despite the Catamounts scoring the first point of the overtime period thanks to a free throw by Cruz, the visiting side took the lead with a put-back jumper by Jaron Dougherty with 2:41 remaining and never looked back. Mercer pushed its lead to four points thanks to Lewis and Boykin before Marshall brought WCU back within one score. The Bears were unphased by the resistance, however, as they scored the final five points of the game to close out a 23-5 run over the final 9:41 of the game and completed the thrilling comeback victory.
COMEBACK COMPLETE! 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗡! #DefineYourMoment | #LightTheBridge pic.twitter.com/7yyavwYVS2
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) February 5, 2021
Quotables – Head coach Susie Gardner
On the team's comeback in the final 4:41 of the game…
"I think we didn't panic. I was really proud of our defensive stops, and we had players who were not hitting shots earlier in the game hitting shots when we needed them to down the stretch. Everyone who played gave us something. Shannon [Titus] played great, and Naomi [Van Nes] and Sierra [Votaw] both had six points, but the hero of the game was Sydneey Boykin without question."
On Sydneey Boykin's impact…
"Sydneey continually works hard and always comes into the gym with a great attitude. We knew she was a great defensive player, and tonight they probably didn't know who she was because she's played so little this season. They were leaving her open and she was knocking down open shots.
"Her steals and charges really fired up the bench. To see someone that our team cares so much about have some individual success that led to team success really gave us a lift."
On the team's offensive struggles…
"It's very difficult when you go 1-for-11 in a quarter like we did in the second. We have got to quit having these stretches of not being able to hit shots as a team. We've got to become more efficient offensively like we were in the second half."
On Nadia Marshall…
"Marshall just lit us up. She didn't miss many shots, and she got to the offensive glass when she did miss. She was a great player tonight, and we'll need to watch some film to see who will match up best against her defensively."
Player of the Game
Sydneey Boykin provided a spark off the bench for Mercer in the second half and energized the rest of the team as the Bears completed the comeback victory. The Clarksville, Tenn., native reached double figures for the first time in her career, dropping 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. She finished with three steals, two assists, two rebounds and a block while also drawing a pair of key charges during the team's fourth-quarter comeback. She was the main catalyst during the team's strong fourth quarter, making a perfect 4-of-4 shots from the field and her lone free throw attempt for nine points.
GUESS WHO....
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) February 5, 2021
(It's Sydneey, in case that wasn't obvious)#DefineYourMoment | @sydneeyboykin pic.twitter.com/qNsQaCTCFC
Notables
» Mercer earned its first win when trailing by double digits this season.
» The Bears improved to 6-2 on the road.
» Mercer remained perfect on Thursdays (5-0), as well as in overtime games (3-0).
» The Bears posted their first win of the season when trailing with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
» Mercer had a player score at least 20 points for the 10th consecutive game, dating back to Dec. 18 at Western Kentucky.
» The Bears have mad multiple players in double figures in all 17 games this season and are 10-2 when three or more players score 10+ points.
» Shannon Titus scored a team-high 22 points for her fourth 20-point performance of the season.
» Titus scored 20-plus points for the third time in the last four games.
» Titus reached double figures for the 10th time this season and 55th time in her career.
» Titus passed Tracy Henry and Carrie Harper to move into 22nd place on Mercer's all-time scoring list with 1,067 career points.
» Titus documented her 200th career steal.
» Sydneey Boykin set season highs in points (11), field goals made (5), steals (3) and minutes played (26).
» Boykin scored in double figures for the first time in her career.
» Jill Harris has pulled down a season-high three rebounds in each of the last three games.
» Jada Lewis tallied double-digit points for the 13th game this season and 10th time in the last 11 contests.
» Lewis knocked down the 150th 3-pointer of her career.
» Lewis matched her season high with five assists for the fifth game this year.
» Sierra Votaw and Naomi Van Nes both scored six points off the bench in the first half.
» Allie Thayne recorded at least six rebounds for the third consecutive game.
Up Next
The Bears will close out their two-game set at Western Carolina on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup on ESPN+.
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.
Team Stats
Mercer
WCU
FG%
.422
.386
3FG%
.143
.176
FT%
.667
.789
RB
33
43
TO
16
24
STL
11
8
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
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