Mercer Defeats Austin Peay In Double Overtime Thriller, 78-75

Saturday, December 2

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

3-7,0-0SoCon

Austin Peay

3-5,0-0ASUN

OT 1

OT 2

Austin Peay

Mercer

Mercer Defeats Austin Peay In Double Overtime Thriller, 78-75

12/2/2023 5:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Mercer shot 50% from three-point range

MACON, Ga. - In a tightly contested game for most of the way, the Mercer Bears were able to come away with a 78-75 double overtime win at home over Austin Peay Saturday afternoon.

The Bears were 7-for-14 from three-point range which was the Bears' most efficient game from behind the arc this season.

Two statistical advantages the Bears had in the game that helped them earn the win was offensive rebounds and free throw attempts. Mercer had 16 offensive rebounds to the Governor's 10 and Mercer had nearly twice as many free throw attempts as the Bears went 19-for-27 from the line and Austin Peay 7-for-14.

Mercer was paced offensively by Briana Peguero, Deja Williams, and Mackenzie Johnson who all had important baskets down the stretch in regulation and overtime.

Peguero led the Bears with 18 points and was 3-for-6 from three-point range. Williams had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting to go with five assists. Johnson had 16 points and seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first quarter the Bears made three three-pointers, two from Peguero and one from Knoll. Knoll's three-pointer gave Mercer a 17-11 lead before a basket from Austin Peay made it a 17-13 game after one quarter.

Mercer started to extend its lead in the second quarter as Mackenzie and Aspen Johnson combined to score 11 of the first 14 second quarter points for the Bears. Mercer took its largest lead of the game at 31-19 with just over three minutes to play in the half. Austin Peay closed the half on an 8-2 run to make it a 33-27 Mercer lead at halftime.

The third quarter was one the Bears would have liked back as they shot just 2-for-14 (14.3%) from the field in the quarter. On the other end Austin Peay came out strong going on an 18-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at 45-35. Mercer would score the last five points of the quarter as the Bears found themselves down 47-40 heading to the fourth quarter.

A three-pointer from Peguero with just under five minutes to play in the game cut Mercer's deficit to three at 54-51. Trailing 60-58 in the final minute, Cianté Downs grabbed a loose ball off a missed Peguero shot and scored to tie the game at 60 and force overtime.

In overtime, Mercer jumped out to a 69-64 lead with one minute to play. However, the Governors wouldn't go away, scoring the last five points of overtime to force a second overtime.

Mercer's first five points in the second overtime came from the foul line. With the game tied at 74, Williams hit an elbow jump shot to put Mercer up two. After one made free throw at the other end from Austin Peay, Mackenzie Johnson banked in a shot to put Mercer up 78-75 with 27 seconds to play. Mercer then came up with a couple of defensive stops to get the win.

NOTES

Williams' 17 points were a season-high
Mercer was 19-for-27 from the free throw line; its most made and attempted free throws in a game this season
Peguero and Mackenzie Johnson have each scored in double figures in four consecutive games
Stacie Jones had 11 rebounds, her first double figure rebound game since Georgia on Nov. 16
Downs had a season-high eight rebounds
Mercer's 16 assists were tied for the most in a game this season (Marist)

COACH GARDNER QUOTES

Opening Statement:
"The difference was our offensive rebounding. We had 16 for the game and I felt like Cianté especially had some huge ones at crunch time. We also stepped up for the most part and hit our free throws. It just took a lot of guts. Deja played through a cramp. I'm really proud of her and her efforts. We did a lot things wrong this game, but we did just enough right to pull out a win."

On challenge of passing in to post players:
"I think opponents know that our strength right now is our post play. So they are paying a little bit more attention to there and there's less room to make a pass."

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.