Bears Can't Dig Out Of First Half Deficit in 65-58 Loss at Charlotte

Wednesday, November 29

Charlotte, N.C.

5:30 p.m.

Mercer University

2-7,0-0SoCon

Charlotte

5-3,0-0AAC

Mercer

Charlotte

Bears Can't Dig Out Of First Half Deficit in 65-58 Loss at Charlotte

11/29/2023 7:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mackenzie Johnson had a season-high 21 points

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Mercer couldn't climb it's way back from a 14-point first half deficit as the Bears lost on the road to Charlotte, 65-58 Wednesday evening in Halton Arena.

Trailing 34-20 at halftime, Mercer got within five points of the 49ers at 44-39 midway through the third quarter. However, the 49ers were able to keep the Bears from getting any closer for the remainder of the game.

Mercer outscored Charlotte 38-31 in the second half, scoring nearly twice as many points in the second half as it did in the first.

Mackenzie Johnson had a season-high 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting (69.2%) to lead the Bears offensively. Johnson scored all 21 of her points in the second half. She also tied for the team lead with five rebounds.

Briana Peguero was the other Bear to score in double figures as she had 17 points to go with two rebounds and two assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer got out to a good start offensively, making four of its first five shots from the floor to take an early 9-7 lead. Then the Bears couldn't get much going offensively for the remainder of the first quarter and into the second quarter. A free throw from freshman Ariana Dyson was Mercer's only other point in the first quarter as the Bears trailed 19-10 after the first quarter.

Charlotte was able to extend its lead to 26-10 just under four minutes into the second quarter before the Bears scored their first points of quarter. Mercer scored the last five points of the quarter and six of its 10 points in the quarter came from the free throw line, but the Bears trailed 34-20 at the break.

Mackenzie Johnson started to heat up offensively in the third quarter to help get the Bears back in the game. She scored 11 of the first 13 points of the quarter for Mercer and the Bears found themselves down 42-35 almost halfway through the third quarter. Maria Serracanta converted a traditional three-point play in the closing seconds of the third quarter as Mercer trailed 50-42 after three quarters of play.

Charlotte got out to a fast start in the fourth quarter, scoring the first six points which was one of the key periods in the game as they extended their lead instead of allowing the Bears to continue to inch closer on the scoreboard. Johnson and Peguero combined to score all 16 fourth quarter points for the Bears.

NOTES

Johnson's 21 points marks the third consecutive game in double figures for her. It is the most points scored by a Bear this season. Her 69.2% field goal percentage was also a season best
Mercer was 15-for-28 (53.6%) from the field in the second half
Charlotte attempted just seven three-pointers, making only one. It was the fewest made and attempted three-pointers by a Mercer opponent this season
The Bears had 15 assists to Charlotte's nine
Peguero made three three-pointers for the third time this season

UP NEXT
Mercer returns home to play Austin Peay on Saturday. Tip off is at 2 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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