Mercer University
Samford University
Women's Basketball Hosts Samford Saturday Afternoon
1/20/2023 2:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tip off is at 2 p.m. ET
GAME DAY INFO
Samford (10-9, 4-0) at Mercer (6-11, 2-2)
Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET
Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
TV: ESPN+
LAST TIME OUT
Chattanooga 78, Mercer 70 (OT)
Mercer freshman guard Enjulina Gonzalez set an early career-high with 34 points and Mercer battled back from a double-digit halftime deficit to force overtime, but ultimately came up on the short end in a 78-70 overtime defeat at Chattanooga on Saturday.
Enjulina Gonzalez was efficient shooting the ball on her way to her 34 points as she was 15-for-21 (71.4%) from the floor. In addition to her 34 points, Gonzalez had four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Her 34 points are the second most points scored by a SoCon player in a game this season.
Thanks in large part to Gonzalez's 34 points, Mercer outscored Chattanooga 44-0 in bench points.
Each team shot the ball well from the floor as Mercer was 31-for-58 (53.8%) and Chattanooga was 27-for-55 (49.1%) from the floor. One difference in the game was the three-point line, as Mercer was 0-for-5 and Chattanooga was 6-for-14 (42.9%).
The Bears turned a 12-point halftime deficit into a 4-point lead with two and a half minutes remaining in the game. Gonzalez tied the game at 58 with 15 seconds remaining. Then, on the ensuing Chattanooga possession, Ashlee Locke came up with a huge block to send the game to overtime.
SCOUTING SAMFORD
Samford is coming off a 13-17 season in 2021-22. The Bulldogs went 7-7 in conference play. The Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the eight team league in the preseason coaches poll.
Samford is the lone remaining undefeated SoCon team in conference play at 4-0. Samford's offense leads the SoCon in field goal percentage at 44.4 percent this season.
The Bulldogs rank second in the SoCon in 3-point field goal percentage at 34.0 percent for the season. However, Samford is last in the league in defending the 3-pointer as opposing teams are shooting 32.0 percent from behind the arc against them.
Senior guard Andrea Bailey leads the SoCon in scoring at 18.3 points per game. She is shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from three-point range. She leads the team with 40 made 3-pointers and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Sussy Ngulefac is second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg) and rebounds (4.3 rpg). She leads the team in field goal percentage at 62.1 percent.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the 26th all-time meeting between Mercer and Samford. Mercer leads the series 19-6.
STANDOUT STAT
With Enjulina Gonzalez's 34-point effort at Chattanooga. Mercer is the only team in the SoCon to have three players with a 30-point game this season (Gonzalez, Neal-Tysor, and Dougherty).
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.
