Mercer University
12-16,6-6SoCon
Furman
14-13,4-7SoCon
Defensive Effort Leads Mercer Past Furman, 55-50
2/22/2024 9:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Defensive stop in closing seconds seals win
MACON, Ga. - Behind one of its best defensive performances of the season, the Mercer women's basketball team needed and got one more stop in the final seconds of the game to earn a 55-50 home win over Furman Thursday night in Hawkins Arena.
A layup from an out of bounds play from Briana Peguero put Mercer up 53-50 with 15 seconds to play. Peguero followed her layup by on the ensuing play, blocking a potential Furman game-tying three-point attempt and scored in transition to seal the win for the Bears.
Mercer had two players score in double figures, led by Summah Evans, who had 16 points, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Stacie Jones added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Mercer collected 43 rebounds in the game compared to Furman's 34, led by Jones' 10 rebounds. The Bears also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 20 rebounds into 11 second chance points.
The Mercer defense held Furman shooters to just 37.5 percent from the field, and held Furman without a made three-pointer as the Paladins were 0-for-12 from deep.Â
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 10-8 advantage, Mercer went on a 7-0 run with 3:56 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Briana Peguero, to increase its lead to 17-8, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Mercer relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down three three-pointers in the quarter.
Mercer kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 4:42 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Evans, to increase its lead to 30-15. The Bears would take a 35-18 lead into halftime.
Mercer took its largest lead of the game in the opening minutes of the third quarter as the Bears led 42-22 with seven minutes to play in the quarter. Then, the Paladins would tighten up defensively holding Mercer to just one made field goal for the remainder of the quarter. Furman closed the quarter outscoring Mercer 13-3 to make it a 45-35 Mercer lead heading to the fourth quarter.
A jump shot from Evans put the Bears up 12 at 49-37 with more than seven minutes to play. Furman would then go on a 10-0 run over the next five minutes to close the gap to 49-47 with two minutes to play. Leading, 51-50 with 17 seconds remaining, Briana Peguero made a layup on an out of bounds play to make it a three point game. On the following possession Peguero blocked Furman's potential game-tying three-point attempt to seal the win for the Bears.
GAME NOTES
- Stacie Jones notched a double-double for the Bears with 12 points and 10 rebounds
- The Bears never trailed after taking a 17-8 first quarter lead
- The Mercer defense forced 20 Furman turnovers
- Mercer allowed the second fewest points in a game all season (44 vs Western Carolina)
- Stacie Jones recorded her team best sixth double-double of the season
- Summah Evans had four steals, her third game this season with at least four steals
- Cianté Downs led Mercer with five offensive rebounds
COACH GARDNER QUOTES
On Difference In Halves:
"I thought it was one of our best defensive games in the first half. In the second half they just threw a run and jump, bitz, scramble defense at us and we simply didn't handle it very well. But at the end of the day we found a way. Fortunately for us we had a big enough lead. Credit to Furman for how hard they played at the end. It could have gone in either direction, but I was really proud of our guys with the way we finished the game."
On Winning Rebounding Advantage Against Good Rebounding Furman Team:
"We know that they are a great rebounding team. I think the difference was our offensive rebounds. We had 20 offensive rebounds with two people getting five. That was a huge stat for us because we were missing a lot of shots, but we got the offensive rebound and we were able to run some more clock and get another attempt, so that was a huge part of the game for sure."
On Out Of Bounds Play To Peguero:
"As much as I'd like to take credit for it, we didn't get the ball in where we wanted to. They denied the initial pass in and Bri made a great cut and Deja kept her composure and found her. A lot of times in games that's what it comes down to and how games are won. Players have to make plays."
UP NEXT
Mercer welcomes the Wofford Terriers to Hawkins Arena Saturday afternoon. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BEARSÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter),  /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @Mercer_wbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
