Mercer Unable To Get Offense Going in 59-38 Loss To Bowling Green

Wednesday, November 22

Savannah, Ga.

Noon

Mercer University

1-5,0-0SoCon

Bowling Green

3-1,0-0MAC

Mercer

Bowling Green

Mercer Unable To Get Offense Going in 59-38 Loss To Bowling Green

11/22/2023 2:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

First of back-to-back games at Savannah Hoops Invitational

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Mercer was unable to get its offense going in a 59-38 loss to Bowling Green Wednesday afternoon in the first of two games in back-to-back days for the Bears at the Savannah Hoops Invitational.

In the lowest scoring game for the Bears this season, neither team was able to get into a rhythm offensively as the Bears shot 12-for-55 (21.8%) from the field and Bowling Green 23-for-61 (37.7%). Furthermore, the Bears were unable to limit their turnovers as they had 20 for the game.

Stacie Jones was the only Bear to reach double figures in scoring with 11 points. Mackenzie Johnson led all players with 11 rebounds, her most as a Bear this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The offensive struggles for both teams started from the opening tip as the score was just 3-3 at the under-five media timeout in the first quarter. A layup from Jones made it 10-7 Bowling Green before Bowling Green freshman Taya Ellis scored the last three points of the quarter to give the Falcons a 13-7 lead.

Bowling Green's offense got going in the opening minutes of the second quarter but the Bears couldn't match the Falcons offensively. Bowling Green opened the quarter on an 8-0 run to open up a 14-point lead at 21-7. Jones scored the first points of the second quarter for the Bears with just over five minutes to play in the quarter. Ashlee Locke scored the only other field goal for the Bears in the quarter as Mercer went into the half trailing 26-13.

A Deja Williams three-pointer made it 38-20 Bowling Green with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter, but a Maria Serracanta jump shot was the only points the Bears would score in the final five minutes of the third quarter as Mercer trailed 44-22 after three quarters.

Cianté Downs scored four of Mercer's six points to open the fourth quarter. Unable to get their shots to fall, the Bears were able to get to the free throw line more in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of their 16 points in the quarter from the line.

NOTES

Defensively the Bears played better defense without fouling as Bowling Green attempted a season-low 10 free throws
Mercer was 12-for-14 (85.7%) from the free throw line. Its best free throw percentage this season
The Bears had a season-high five blocks, led by Jones and Locke who had two blocks each

UP NEXT
Mercer will play its second of back-to-back games at the Savannah Hoops Invitational on Thanksgiving day when the Bears take on Marist at 11:30 a.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.