Hot-Handed Jackson State Tops Mercer

Thursday, December 19

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

4-9,0-0SoCon

Jackson State

2-8,0-0SWAC

Jackson St.

Mercer

12/19/2024 9:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting Jackson State shot scored 20 points off 15 Mercer turnovers and bridged the second and third quarters with an 18-4 run to propel the Tigers to a 66-54 victory over the Bears on Thursday evening in Hawkins Arena.

It was the fourth-straight setback for the Orange & Black (4-9) who will wrap up a two-game home stand on Saturday when it bunkers down to battle Appalachian State in Macon. The result snapped a seven-game skid for Jackson State (2-8) who tasted victory for the first time since a 55-48 triumph at East Tennessee State on November 9.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Jackson State 66, Mercer 54
RECORDS: Mercer 4-9 (0-0 SoCon); Jackson State 2-8 (0-0 SWAC)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

The sides went punch-for-punch in the opening frame, combining for 58 percent shooting from the floor, including a 60-percent clip (9-for-15) by the Bears. Taleah Dilworth's layup at the 6:30 mark, however, sparked the visitors on a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to fuel JSU's 25-20 advantage through 10 minutes of action.

2ND QUARTER

The Tigers limited Mercer to just 2-for-12 shooting from the floor in the second period, and outscored the Bears, 13-6, on the way to dragging a 38-26 lead into the halftime break. Mercer scored six-straight points early on to eventually whittle a 7-point deficit down to just one, 27-26, following an old-fashioned 3-point play from Ariana Bennett, but the Tigers closed out the period with 11-straight points.

3RD QUARTER

Jackson State shot just 38.1 percent from the field in the third quarter, but used a 15-8 disparity in the rebounding column to build its lead. The Tigers rattled off eight-straight points to pad their advantage out to 22 points, 55-33, after Diake Berete's 3-point play with just more than two minutes left.

4TH QUARTER

The Orange & Black got the better of play in the fourth quarter, outscoring JSU, 19-9, on the strength of 58.3 percent (7-for-12) shooting. The visitors took a game-high 23-point lead on Laianya Massenat's 3-pointer just 54 seconds into the quarter, but Mercer responded with a 17-2 run over the next 8-1/2 minutes to trim its deficit down to single digits.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Junior Ariana Bennett scored 11 of her season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, and finished Thursday's outing with an 8-for-16 shooting clip. She also added two steals and a pair of rebounds.
+ Junior Chelsy Bautista added 10 points on the strength of a 5-for-8 shooting clip, while also turning in three rebounds and two steals.
+ Junior Kayla Smith went 3-for-4 from the perimeter on the way to registering nine points and a season-best five rebounds.

NOTABLES

+ The Bears tallied five or more blocks for the second time in their last four outings on Thursday evening. Senior Ashlee Locke accounted for half of those swats, while junior Ariana Bennett cashed in on two.
+ Mercer logged double-digit assists for the sixth time this season, including 14 on Thursday night against the Tigers.

UP NEXT

The Bears will play their last home game of the 2024 calendar year on Saturday when they suit up to take on Appalachian State (3-6) in a 2 p.m. tilt inside Hawkins Arena. Tickets 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.