Bears Tough Out Road Win Over Bethune-Cookman

Saturday, November 30

Daytona Beach, Fla.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

4-5,0-0SoCon

Bethune-Cookman

2-5,0-0SWAC

Mercer

Bethune-Cookman

Bears Tough Out Road Win Over Bethune-Cookman

11/30/2024 5:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Visiting Mercer shot 48 percent from the field in the second half, and then held off a late charge by Bethune-Cookman with six free throws in the final minute, to pick up its first road win of the season with a 70-64 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday in Moore Gymnasium.

The result snapped a two-game skid for the Bears (4-5) who registered a season-best 20 free throws (30 attempts) in the outing as well. It was the first home loss of the season for Bethune-Cookman (2-5) who has now dropped two of the last three meetings with the Orange & Black.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Mercer 70, Bethune-Cookman 64
RECORDS: Mercer 4-5 (0-0 SoCon); Bethune-Cookman 2-5 (0-0 SWAC)
LOCATION: Daytone Beach, Fla. (Moore Gymnasium)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Mercer used its strength down low to forge a 12-8 advantage at the end of the opening period. The Bears scored eight of the game's first 10 points to climb out on top early, but Bethune-Cookman answered with a 13-6 run that stretched into the second quarter and, inevitably, gave BCU their first lead of the afternoon.

2ND QUARTER

Kayla White put the finishing touches on Bethune-Cookman's 13-6 run that eventually gave the Wildcats a 15-14 edge 3-1/2 minutes into the second quarter. Asianae Nicholson hit the front end of a two-shot foul to hand BCU a 21-18 lead with 4:01 left before the break, but Stephanie Utomi's bucket on the other end of the floor ignited the Bears on an 11-4 run that allowed them to take a 29-24 advantage into the locker room.

3RD QUARTER

The Bears shot 50 percent from the field in the third quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers, to maintain their lead heading into the final stanza. Talia Harris's layup midway through the period pushed MU's supremacy out to 41-32, and the two sides traded punches for the remainder of the third.

4TH QUARTER

Mercer went 13-for-16 from the charity stripe in the final quarter, including a 6-for-8 clip in the final minute, to ward off any comeback effort by the Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman used a mild 8-4 run midway through the fourth period to pull to within four points, 64-60, with 49 seconds remaining, but the Bears held steady and used free throws, as well as a key defensive rebound from Ashlee Locke with 39 ticks left, to seal the deal.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Senior Nahawa Diarra matched a game-high with 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting, as well as an 8-for-12 tally from the free throw line. She also posted five assists and a pair of defensive rebounds.
+ Freshman Talia Harris chipped in 15 points on 4-for-8 shooting, including a 2-for-2 tally from downtown. She added a game-best six assists and four defensive boards.
+ Senior Ashlee Locke registered 13 points, five assists and a team-best eight rebounds. She recorded a steal and a block as well.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer's 20 free throws on Saturday was its most since tallying a 22-for-27 showing from the charity stripe against UNC Greensboro last season (Jan. 18, 2024).
+ The Bears turned in 20 assists (23 made field goals) on Saturday as well, their most since registering 24 against Samford last season (Feb. 3, 2024).
+ Saturday's triumph snapped a 5-game road skid for the Bears that stretched back to the 2023-24 regular season road finale against UNC Greensboro (Feb. 17, 2024).

UP NEXT

Mercer will open up a short 2-game home stand on Thursday when the Bears suit up to take on Charlotte (3-4) on Education Day in Hawkins Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

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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, email maf@mercer.edu.