Visiting Furman Trudges Past Mercer

Thursday, January 22

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

12-7,2-2SoCon

Furman

12-8,4-1SoCon

Furman

Mercer

1/22/2026 9:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting Furman pulled down 19 offensive rebounds and scored 21 points off of 20 Mercer turnovers on the way to a 60-49 victory over the Bears on Thursday evening in Hawkins Arena.

The setback snapped a six-game home win streak for Mercer (12-7, 2-2 SoCon) who got 24 points from its bench, while also forcing 19 turnovers as well. It was the sixth win in the last seven outings for the Paladins (12-8, 4-1) who finished the evening with a 33.9 percent success rate from the field.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Furman 60, Mercer 49
RECORDS: Mercer 12-7 (2-2 SoCon); Furman 12-8 (4-1 SoCon)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Furman shot better than 41 percent from the field out of the gates, but it was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride in the first quarter. The Paladins forged a 12-4 lead on a second-chance jumper from Lauren Bailey midway through, but the Bears tacked up the next seven points to make it a one-possession game two minutes later. It was the Paladins, however, that would lug a 17-14 advantage into the second frame.

2ND QUARTER

The pendulum remained motionless in the second quarter as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Mercer connected on its only bucket with 7-1/2 minutes left before the break, but Furman was left wanting as well. The visitors took a 23-17 lead at the 2:38 mark on a driving layup by Tyriana Berry, and maintained that cushion for the remainder of the half before dragging a 24-18 lead into the locker rooms.

3RD QUARTER

Mercer shot an impressive 43.8 percent from the field in the third quarter, but was unable to gain any ground. Furman led by as many as 14 points, 42-28, with 2:46 remaining in the period, but the Bears scored the final nine points of the quarter, including Talia Kemp's triple that made it a two-possession game, 42-37, heading to the final term.

4TH QUARTER

Mercer showed the hot hand, again, in the fourth quarter, but Furman held tough and went 9-for-14 from the charity stripe over the last 10 minutes to seal the outcome. The Bears trailed by just two points, 44-42, following Stephanie Utomi's layup just 1-1/2 minutes into the period, but a pair of free throws by Raina McGowens on the other end of the court marked the first of eight-straight points by Furman that pushed its lead back to double digits, 52-42, with 6:30 to play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Stephanie Utomi came off of the bench to post her first career double-double in just 21 minutes of action. The sophomore guard turned in 14 points and 10 rebounds, while also collecting an assist and a steal.
+ Junior Abigail Holtman chipped in a dozen points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while also logging three rebounds, one assist and a steal.
+ Senior Nahawa Diarra tallied eight rebounds, three steals and two assists on the night, while Talia Kemp posted a trio of steals as well to go along with seven points.

NOTABLES

+ Thursday's setback snapped a six-game home win streak for the Bears who had not tasted defeat in Hawkins Arena since a loss to Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson on November 6.
+ The Bears got one block from five different players on Thursday and have now registered five or more blocks in six outings this season.
+ Mercer also amassed 12 steals against the Paladins and has turned in double-digit swipes eight times in its last nine outings.

UP NEXT

Mercer will close out its three-game Southern Conference home stand on Saturday when it locks horns with Wofford (10-9, 4-1 SoCon) in an 11 a.m. contest at Hawkins Arena. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

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BACK THE BEARS

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