Mercer Falls In Tight Road Contest At ETSU, 77-71

Saturday, January 13

Johnson City, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

6-12,0-2SoCon

East Tennessee State

13-4,2-0SoCon

Mercer

ETSU

Mercer Falls In Tight Road Contest At ETSU, 77-71

1/13/2024 4:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Game had 21 lead changes

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - In a tightly contested game that featured 21 lead changes, the Mercer Bears came up on the short end, falling to ETSU on the road, 77-71 on Saturday afternoon from Brooks Gym.

In a high scoring game that saw each team go on long scoring runs in the first half, ETSU outscored the Bears 24-15 in the fourth quarter to pick up its second conference win in as many games this season.

Each team got balanced scoring and contributions from its bench as a total of 17 different players scored in the game. Both teams had four players score in double figures.

The foul line ended up being an important difference in the game as ETSU knocked down its free throws late to secure the win. ETSU went 19-for-23 (82.6%) from the line to Mercer's 5-for-11 (45.5%).

Summah Evans and Stacie Jones led the Bears offensively with 13 points each.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Each team got into a rhythm offensively to start the game. The largest lead in the first quarter was Mercer leading 8-5. Seven different players scored for the Bears in the first quarter and Mercer led 20-19 after the first.

2ND QUARTER

The second quarter would be best summed up by each team going on long scoring runs. Mercer got off to an outstanding start in the second quarter, going on a 12-1 run to take its largest lead of the game at 32-20. ETSU then followed that up with a run of its own going on a 14-0 run to take a 34-32 lead. Briana Peguero beat the halftime buzzer on a long jump shot to make it a 38-37 halftime lead for ETSU.

3RD QUARTER

Mercer and ETSU went back and forth in the third quarter. A layup from Mackenzie Johnson put Mercer up 49-45, before ETSU scored the next six points to take the lead back at 51-49. Jones scored seven of her 13 points in the quarter and Mercer took a 56-53 lead into the fourth quarter.

4TH QUARTER

ETSU opened up the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 65-58 lead as the Bears couldn't make their shots in the opening minutes of the quarter. ETSU got to the free throw line a lot in the fourth quarter where they scored half its points in the quarter, going 12-for-14. A three-pointer from Deja Williams made it a 71-69 ETSU lead with 24 seconds to play. ETSU would make its free throws down the stretch to get the win.

NOTES

Mercer went 30-for-69 (43.5%) from the field - it's most made field goals in a game this season
The Bears had 14 offensive rebounds - tied for their most offensive rebounds in their last eight games
The game featured 21 lead changes; the previous high for lead changes in a game this season for Mercer was 13
The Bears did a better job of protecting the ball as they had just 11 turnovers, their fewest turnovers in their last 11 games
Stacie Jones finished with 13 points. She has scored at least 13 points while shooting at least 50 percent from the field in her last six games

UP NEXT
Mercer returns home to Macon to play its first home conference game of the season against UNCG. The game is Thursday, January 18 at 7 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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