Mercer University
11-15,5-5SoCon
Western Carolina
6-19,1-9SoCon
Balanced Offensive Attack Guides Mercer To 76-62 Win Over Western Carolina
2/15/2024 9:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Four different players scored in double figures for the Bears
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Behind a balanced offensive attack and an efficient night shooting the ball, the Bears earned their way to a 76-62 victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts on the road Thursday in Ingles Court.
The Bears had four players score in double figures, led by Summah Evans, who had 19 points. Deja Williams tacked on 13 points and three steals, Mackenzie Johnson chipped in as well with 13 points and Stacie Jones had 10 points to go with four rebounds.
Mercer shot 50% from the field and three-point range and went a perfect 17-for-17 from the free-throw line on the night.
Cianté Downs pulled down six offensive rebounds to lead the Bears, which created a 16-6 edge in second chance points.
Defensively, the Bears forced 16 Western Carolina turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 22 points on the other end of the floor. Williams' three steals led the way individually for the Bears.
How It Happened
After falling behind 8-4, Mercer went on an 8-0 run with 6:22 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Briana Peguero, to take a 12-8 lead. The Bears then added four points to that lead by the end of the quarter and led 21-13. Mercer capitalized on five Western Carolina turnovers in the first quarter, turning them into six points on the other end of the floor.
A layup from Johnson midway through the second quarter made it 29-21 Mercer. Neither team could go on a scoring run to close out the half as the Bears took a 37-30 lead into halftime.
Western Carolina was able to make it a one possession game in the third quarter as the Bears led 44-42. Then, shortly after Mercer would respond by going on an 8-0 run to expand its lead further to 54-44 with just under three minutes to play in the third. The Bears held onto that lead for the rest of the quarter and entered the fourth with a 59-49 edge. Mercer knocked down three three-pointers in the third quarter.
Each team got off to slow starts offensively to begin the fourth quarter. Mercer led 64-53 with a little more than five minutes to play, before going on a 5-0 run from Williams to help grow the lead to 69-53 with just over four minutes to go in the contest. Mercer continued to make its free throws to come away with its second conference win away from home on the season.
NOTES
- The Bears never trailed after taking a 21-13 lead after the first quarter
- Mercer had a 33-22 edge on the boards in the win
- Mercer's 17 made free throws without a miss were the most made free throws without a miss in a game this season for the Bears
- Mercer's 50% field goal percentage was its second best field goal percentage in a conference game this season (55.7% at Samford)
- Western Carolina went 0-for-4 from three-point range. The first opponent Mercer held without a made three-pointer in a game this season
- Downs's six offensive rebounds were tied for the second most offensive rebounds she's had in a game this season
COACH GARDNER QUOTES
Thoughts On The Game:
"I thought we got off to a good start and we just never felt like we could pull away from them. Cianté kept us in the game when we were missing shots. She got six offensive rebounds. That was huge for us tonight. Also, shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line was big. It was a good win. It's always tought to play here. I thought we did some good things. I thought we did some things that we can do a little bit better next time, but we are making progress and going in the right direction."
On Avoiding Slow Start:
"I think we were locked in. I think our players have been great in practice. They have purpose about them. They were exceptional teammates tonight with each other when things weren't going our way. I thought they showed some maturity in handling adversity really well."
On Down's Offensive Rebounding:
"That's what she does. She's like 5'8" maybe, but some people just have the will to go get after the offensive glass. It's crazy that she's one of the smallest players on the floor. She just has the mindset of 'I'm going to go do it.' We were missing some shots we probably should've made, but she kept the play alive and we got 20 more seconds on the shot clock. She's done it all year honestly and it's helped us a ton."
UP NEXT
Mercer plays its last regular season away game of the year on Saturday, Feb. 17 as the Bears visit UNCG in Greensboro, North Carolina. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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