Mercer Hands Samford its First Conference Loss in 70-63 Win

Saturday, January 21

Macon, Ga.

2 PM

Mercer University

7-11 (3-2)

Samford University

10-10 (4-1)

Samford

Mercer

Mercer Hands Samford its First Conference Loss in 70-63 Win

1/21/2023 6:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Bears got contributions throughout roster in win

MACON, Ga. - The Mercer women's basketball team handed conference foe Samford its first conference loss of the season in a 70-63 win on Saturday afternoon from Hawkins Arena.

Four Bears scored in double figures led by freshman Enjulina Gonzalez who continues to build her confidence following her 34-point performance last time out against Chattanooga, as Gonzalez led the Bears with 18 points, going 8-for-16 from the field, with six rebounds and four assists.

Erin Houpt, Ashlee Locke and Summah Evans all had 11 points on the afternoon for the Bears. All three of Houpt's made field goals were from three-point range. Locke scored nine of her 11 points in the second quarter and was one rebound shy of a double-double.

Mercer held Samford to just 21-for-65 (31.3%) from the field for the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Each team had slow starts offensively to begin the game. An Erin Houpt 3-pointer tied the game at nine with over three minutes to play in the first quarter. Mercer closed out the quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 15-12 lead, with Nigeria Harkless accounting for four of the six points during the run.

Locke did much of the scoring for the Bears in the second quarter with her nine points to pace the Bears offensively in the quarter. Samford started the quarter on a 10-3 run to take back the lead at 22-18.

Locke scored nine of Mercer's last 11 points in the second quarter and the Bears took a 31-28 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, neither team could go on a scoring run to stretch out a lead as neither team led by more than three points throughout the final seven minutes of the quarter. The Bears scored just two points through nearly the first five minutes of the second quarter, but after a made free throw from Jaron Dougherty, found themselves in a tie game at 34 thanks to a strong defensive effort to open the second half.

Each team scored on its last possession of the third quarter and Mercer took a 45-43 lead into the final quarter.

The Bears owned the opening five minutes of the fourth quarter and stretched their lead to 54-47 after a layup from Gonzalez. Mercer got important baskets down the stretch from the likes of Summah Evans and Brittany Reeves to keep Samford from ever making it a one possession game.

Mercer closed out the game with made free throws and defensive stops. The Bears scored 25 points in the fourth quarter on 8-of-12 shooting from the field.

NOTABLES

Mercer was without its leading scorer for the game in Amoria Neal-Tysor who is out with an injury
Locke's 11 points and nine reboundds were each career-highs
Six Mercer players finished with at least five rebounds

UP NEXT:
The Bears are in the midst of three consecutive home games. Next up is a home game on Thursday, Jan. 26 as the Bears welcome Wofford to Hawkins Arena. Tip off is set for 7 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.