Bethune-Cookman Uses Late Basket To Slip Past Bears

Saturday, December 30

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

5-10,0-0SoCon

Bethune-Cookman

9-4,0-0SWAC

Bethune-Cookman

Mercer

Bethune-Cookman Uses Late Basket To Slip Past Bears

12/30/2023 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Game Book

MACON – Visiting Bethune-Cookman took the lead for good on Chanel Wilson's driving layup with 4.7 seconds left, then held its breath on the other end of the court as Mercer's potential game-tying jumper careened off the side of the iron, as the Wildcats escaped with a 60-58 nailbiter over the Bears on Saturday in Hawkins Arena.

The result marked the second-straight come-from-behind setback for the Bears (5-10) who fell to 3-3 at home this season with the loss as well. It was the fifth win in the last six outings for Bethune-Cookman (9-4) who improved to 2-1 all-time in the series with the Orange & Black.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Bethune-Cookman 60, Mercer 58
RECORDS: Mercer 5-10 (0-0 SoCon); Bethune-Cookman 9-4 (0-0 SWAC)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

The squads traded punches for much of the first seven minutes of the contest, but Bethune-Cookman's 53.3 percent shooting in the opening quarter eventually proved to swing the momentum. The Bears grabbed a 10-9 lead on a jumper from Stacie Jones at the 3:16 mark, but the Wildcats closed out the stanza with an 11-2 run to lug a 20-12 advantage into the second quarter.

2ND QUARTER

Mercer forced six turnovers and limited Bethune-Cookman to just 31-percent shooting to dig into its deficit a bit. The visitors forged a 28-17 lead with 4-1/2 minutes left before the break, but the Bears scored on consecutive possessions to whittle the lead down to seven points. The Wildcats would eventually take a 34-25 advantage into the locker rooms, however.

3RD QUARTER

The Bears did most of their biting in a third-quarter performance that watched the squad shoot better than 53 percent from the field, while also canning seven of their eight attempts from the free throw line. Bethune-Cookman led by five points, 43-38, after Kayla Clark's fast break layup at the 4:07 mark, but the Bears closed out the period with an 11-2 run to take a 49-45 advantage into the final quarter.

4TH QUARTER

A no-doubt 3-pointer from Deja Williams with 5-1/2 minutes left to play extended Mercer's lead out to seven points, 56-49, but the Wildcats refused to go away without a fight. Chanel Wilson's 3-pointer just more than 30 seconds later sparked the visitors on a game-ending 11-2 run that keyed the final outcome.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Senior Stacie Jones scored eight of her team-high 14 points in the second half, while also complementing her offensive output with five boards as well.
+ Senior Summah Evans turned in a dozen points in her first start of the season, including a 2-for-3 clip from the perimeter. She also tallied a team-best eight rebounds.
+ Junior Briana Peguero chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes of playing time.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer turned in a season-high six blocks against the Wildcats on Saturday. It is the most blocks for MU since registering six swats in the 2022-23 season finale at UNC Greensboro.
+ The Bears logged 10 or more assists for the 12^th time in 2023-24, while also registering double-digit steals for the third-straight game.
+ Saturday's contest marked the first series matchup between MU and Bethune-Cookman since Nov. 25, 2006.

UP NEXT

The Bears will close out a short two-game stay at home on Tuesday when they suit up to take on in-state rival Kennesaw State (4-8) in a 7 p.m. contest inside Hawkins Arena. Admission (all tickets) for the midweek affair has been set at $2.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow Mercer Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" Mercer Women's Basketball on Facebook.

BACK THE BEARS

Fans can help support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, visit S upportMAF.com or email maf@mercer.edu.