Houpt's Career-High Not Enough In 76-71 Defeat To Wofford

Thursday, January 26

Macon, Ga.

7 PM

Mercer University

7-12,3-3SoCon

Wofford College

14-6,4-2SoCon

Wofford

Mercer

Houpt's Career-High Not Enough In 76-71 Defeat To Wofford

1/26/2023 11:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Erin Houpt scored a career-high 31 points on nine made 3-pointers

MACON, Ga. – Erin Houpt scored a career-high 31 points, but Mercer couldn't get enough stops down the stretch in a 76-71 defeat to Wofford on Thursday night from Hawkins Arena.

Enjulina Gonzalez was the other Mercer player to score in double-figures as she had 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting, but Gonzalez got in foul trouble in the second half and the Bears couldn't execute the same on both ends of the floor.

Erin Houpt scored her 31 points shooting 9-for-19 from the field including 9-for-18 from three-point range. Her nine made 3-pointers were the most made 3-pointers in a game by a Mercer player since Keke Calloway made 12 against Furman in January of 2018.

Summah Evans had nine points and 14 rebounds, with her first 10 rebounds all coming in the first half.

Each team made 10 3-pointers in the game. Mercer had 17 turnovers to Wofford's seven. The Terriers outscored Mercer 23-10 in points off turnovers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Enjulina Gonzalez scored the first six points of the game for Mercer as the Bears found themselves in a 6-6 tie with the Terriers. Then, Mercer went on a 10-2 run, which included two 3-pointers by Houpt and Mercer was suddenly up 16-8 in the first quarter.

Two early 3-pointers in the second quarter from Houpt gave Mercer a 28-22 lead. The Bears were able to keep their lead for the rest of the second quarter but couldn't build much on it as they took a 38-31 lead at halftime.

Wofford got off to a fast start in the second half whereas the Bears didn't make their first field goal more than four minutes in the third quarter. It was a 12-3 run to open the second half for Wofford as they took a 43-41 lead midway through the third quarter.

Houpt scored nine of Mercer's last 11 points in the third quarter including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to bring the Bears withing two at 54-52 going into the fourth quarter.

.@erin_houpt10 at the buzzer! 🔥

She's got 25 points through three!#UsVsUs | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/yobbtPx9S4
— Mercer Women's Basketball (@Mercer_WBB) January 27, 2023

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

Another fast start to a quarter by Wofford saw the Terriers stretch their lead to nine at 63-54 just over three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back threes by Evans and Houpt quickly made it a one possession game again. Wofford answered back with a basket to make it 65-60.
Then, the Bears went on a 9-0 run to take a 69-65 lead thanks to baskets from four different Mercer players. Wofford answered with two straight threes to go back up two and held off the Bears the rest of the way.

COACH GARDNER ON KEY FACTORS IN THE GAME
"A big key was Enjulina getting in foul trouble. We were much better when she was on the court. I think another key was we gave ourselves a chance to win and all the banners that we have hanging in the gym from championship teams, were teams that would get stops. You've got to get defensive stops and you've got to secure the defensive rebound. We've got to be able to make plays when it matters, and we just didn't do that tonight."

COACH GARDNER ON ERIN HOUPT
"She hasn't been shooting the ball enough in games. She's been turning down shots. Coach Weirzba has been showing her on film some of the shots she's been turning down. Most of her shots tonight came in transition because Anjy [Enjulina Gonzalez] pushes the ball so well."

NOTABLES

27 of Houpt's career-high 31 points came from three-point range. She made at least two 3-pointers in all four quarters.
Summah Evans had 10 rebounds at halftime. Her 14 rebounds in the game tied a career-high.
Mercer's 10 made 3-pointers were the most it's made in a game this season.
Mercer's leading scorer Amoria Neal-Tysor missed her second straight game with an injury.

UP NEXT:
The Bears will play their third consecutive home game on Saturday when Furman comes to Hawkins Arena. Tip off is set for 2 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.