Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short in 79-73 Defeat at Troy

Saturday, December 10

Troy, AL

3 PM

Mercer University

3-6,0-0SoCon

Troy University

4-5,0-0Sun Belt

Mercer

Troy

Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short in 79-73 Defeat at Troy

12/10/2022 6:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer scored a season-high 30 points in the fourth quarter

TROY, Ala. – A valiant fourth quarter comeback fell short for the Bears as they dropped a 79-73 decision at Troy on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears scored 30 points in the fourth quarter, the most they have scored in any quarter all season but didn't have enough time to complete the comeback.

Mercer was down 12 with 1:23 to play and got within one possession at 76-73 with 23 seconds to go, but Troy got a defensive stop late to hold on for the win.

Erin Houpt led the Bears with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Seven of her made field goals were from three-point range. Amoria Neal-Tysor added 21 points to go with a season-high six assists and four steals. Summah Evans tied her career-high with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

HOW IT HAPPENED
An Ashlee Locke layup made it 7-6 Troy midway through the opening quarter.

Inside for 2⃣ @ashleelocke22 #UsVsUS | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/TTivdz73Gk
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) December 10, 2022

Locke and Amoria Neal-Tysor combined to score 11 of Mercer 13 first quarter points. Troy led 19-13 after the first.

The first eight minutes of the second quarter were tightly contested. Two Mercer three-pointers, one each from Summah Evans and Erin Houpt got the Bears within three at 29-26. However, Troy closed the first half on a 6-0 run to get a little bit of breathing room at halftime up nine.

Houpt got the Bears started in the third quarter with a three-pointer in the opening minute. However, Mercer wouldn't score for over four minutes as Troy went on a 12-0 run to increase its lead to 20 in the third quarter.

Troy, despite shooting just 27.8 percent from the field in the third quarter, had 18 free throw attempts, making 12 of them to take a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter.
With the Bears down by 18, Houpt went on a 9-0 scoring run of her own to cut the deficit to nine points.

Troy was up 12 at 75-63 with 1:23 to play when Mercer went to a full court press. The Bears forced 12 Troy turnovers in the fourth quarter and as a result got quick baskets and suddenly found themselves down just three points with 23 seconds to play. Troy got a defensive stop up four points and held on for the win.

COACH GARDNER ON GOING TO FULL COURT PRESS
"We had to find a momentum changer. They were either scoring, going to the free throw line, or getting an offensive rebound every time they were going down the floor. If we even had a shot of winning, we had to do something to get the ball back quicker. So, I was really proud of our fight during that time. I thought we made some hustle plays and gave ourselves a chance."

COACH GARDNER ON REBOUNDING
"All we talked about for the last three days was they are the number one offensive rebounding team in the country. Rebounding is hustle and just having effort – going to the ball and boxing out. As much as we preach it and teach it, it's an effort skill. Troy is very good but the hustle plays on the rebounding and the free throws [were the difference]."

NOTABLES

Erin Houpt made a season-high seven three-pointers.
With 11 made threes as a team, the Bears have now made 20 three-pointers in their last two games after making just 14 threes over their previous five games.
Ashlee Locke had a career-high eight rebounds.
Summah Evans tied her career-high with 18 points on a career-high eight made field goals.

UP NEXT:
The Bears will get a chance to get some rest as their next game is in nine days when they travel to play Kennesaw State on Dec. 19. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @Mercer_wbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.