Mercer Falls Late at App State, 81-78

Thursday, December 21

Boone, N.C.

Noon

Mercer University

5-9,0-0SoCon

Appalachian State

6-5,0-0Sun Belt

Mercer

App State

12/21/2023 2:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Five Mercer players scored in double figures for second consecutive game

BOONE, N.C. - Despite leading for more than 35 minutes of game time, the Mercer Bears were unable to hold off Appalachian State Thursday afternoon as the Mountaineers came back to win 81-78 from the Holmes Convocation Center.

Mercer had five players score in double figures led by Stacie Jones' 19 points. Jones was two rebounds shy of a double-double as she pulled in eight rebounds.

Mercer led by four going into the fourth quarter, but Appalachian State outscored the Bears 29-22 in the fourth quarter. App State's leading scorer on the season, Faith Alston led the comeback for the Mountaineers as she had 16 of her game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter.

Mercer shot 45 percent from the floor, while App State shot 46 percent. However, the Mountaineers had by far their best performance of the season from three-point range as they went 8-for-13 (61.5%) from deep. Their previous best shooting percentage from three was 37.1 percent. App State also got to the line more than the Bears as the Mountaineers were 25-for-35 (71.4%) from the foul line while Mercer was 15-for-16 (93.8%).

Briana Peguero had 17 points, and Mackenzie Johnson, Aspen Johnson, and Deja Williams all chipped in with 10 points for the Bears.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Back-to-back first quarter three-pointers from Peguero and Williams gave Mercer an early 12-7 lead. The Bears made eight of their first 14 field goal attempts and led 20-15 after the first quarter.

A three-pointer from Peguero in the opening minutes of the second quarter gave Mercer its then largest lead of the game at 25-15. App State answered with an 8-0 run to cut Mercer's lead to two. A couple of steals, one from Maria Serracanta and the other from Peguero led to fastbreak baskets from each and gave Mercer a 35-27 lead. Mercer would take a 37-24 lead into halftime.

Peguero and Jones combined to score the first 11 third quarter points for the Bears. Neither team could go on a long scoring run as Mercer's lead stayed between three to seven points for most of the quarter. The Bears led 56-52 after the third quarter.

Mercer got off to a great start in the fourth quarter, going on an 8-2 run to open up a 10-point lead at 64-54. Like the majority of the game, App State would follow with a short scoring run as they cut Mercer's lead to 64-61. Mercer led 70-64 with just under three minutes to play.

App State's Alston would score 13 of her 31 points over the final three minutes to will her team to the 81-78 come from behind win.

NOTES

Mercer had five players score in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season
Stacie Jones' 19 points were one shy of her season high of 20 points which she scored in the second game of the season against FAU
Mercer's 78 points were tied for the most scored in a game this season
The Bears had 16 assists in the game, tied for the most in a game this season

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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