Perimeter Shooting Helps Bears Run Past Mississippi Valley State

Sunday, December 14

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

6-5,0-0SoCon

Mississippi Valley State

1-8,0-0SWAC

Mississippi Val.

Mercer

Perimeter Shooting Helps Bears Run Past Mississippi Valley State

12/14/2025 4:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Home-standing Mercer drained six 3-pointers in the opening period and never looked back as the Bears used their best perimeter performance in nearly two years to trounce visiting Mississippi Valley State, 66-43, on Sunday afternoon in Hawkins Arena.

It was the third-straight home win for Mercer (6-5) who canned a season-high 11 triples on the afternoon and got 17 points apiece from newcomers Elena Cabello and Abigail Holtman in the rout. The Delta Devilettes (1-8) have now dropped five-straight games, including four consecutive double-digit setbacks.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Mercer 66, Mississippi Valley State 43
RECORDS: Mercer 6-5 (0-0 SoCon); Mississippi Valley State 1-8 (0-0 SWAC)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

The Bears went 6-for-8 from downtown in the opening period and never took their foot off of the gas on the way to forging a 23-5 advantage after 10 minutes of play. The Bears scored 20 of the game's first 22 points, including 18 from the perimeter, and had already pushed their lead out to double digits for good, 12-0, on Elena Cabello's 3-pointer less than three minutes in.

2ND QUARTER

The second period was a re-read of the first 10 minutes as Mercer continued to stay hot from the outside, while also finding its niche in the paint. The Delta Devilettes scored four-straight points in the first four minutes to trim their deficit back to just 16 points, 25-9, with six minutes left before the break, but the Bears answered with an 11-0 run over the next 2-1/2 minutes before padding their lead out to 30 points, 43-13, on Abigail Holtman's triple at the 2:06 mark.

3RD QUARTER

Mississippi Valley State limited the hosts to just 27.3 percent shooting in the third period, and used the cold air to outscore the Bears 18-7 in the stanza. Jaeda Murphy's running jumper with 6-1/2 minutes showing marked the first of nine-straight points by the visitors that allowed them to pull to within 21 points, 51-30, four minutes later.

4TH QUARTER

Mercer forced six turnovers and pulled down six offensive rebounds in the final quarter to keep the Delta Devilettes at bay. Taylor Crawford converted a fast-break layup with 2:29 left to play to pull MVSU as close as 22 points, 62-40, but the Delta Devilettes were only able to muster one more field goal down the stretch thanks to a pair of forcerd turnovers by MU.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Junior Abigail Holtman scored all 17 of her game- and team-high (shared) 17 points in the opening half on 6-for-8 shooting, including a 5-for-7 clip from 3-point territory. Holtman also added four turnovers and a pair of steals.
+ Junior Elena Cabello matched Holtman in the scoring column, registering 17 points on five 3-pointers (5-for-7), but also flirted with a double-double by pulling down a team-best eight rebounds as well.
+ Freshman Remi-Hope Drantmann chipped in a season-best 11 points, six rebounds and a trio of blocks in just 20 minutes of action. She scored nine of her points on 4-for-7 shooting in the second half.

NOTABLES

+ The Bears connected on their most 3-pointers (11) since draining 13 triples (17 attempts) in an 87-59 win at Samford on Feb. 3, 2024. Mercer's 11-for-22 showing from the perimeter marked the third time this season (Jackson State, Charleston Southern) that the Bears have connected on 50 percent of their 3-point attempts.
+ Mercer logged 16 offensive rebounds on Sunday and converted them into 11 points. It is the fifth time this season that the Orange & Black has tallied 15 or more offensive boards.
+ The Bears posted six blocks on Sunday – their most since registering seven swats in a 65-49 setback at Samford on February 8 of last season. Remi-Hope Drantmann had three of those blocks on Sunday, Ariana Bennett picked up two and Talia Harris added one.

UP NEXT

Mercer will play its final home game of the 2025 calendar year on Wednesday when it takes on NCAA Division II foe Erskine (1-3) on Education Day in Hawkins Arena. Tipoff is slated for 11 a.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets. Fans can also gain free admission by donating a pair of socks as part of a partnership with the Merrie Christmas Project.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow Mercer Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" Mercer Women's Basketball on Facebook.

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.