Women’s Basketball Claims Season Opener over Knights

Friday, November 10

Orlando, Fla.

5:30 P.M.

Mercer University

1-0

UCF

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Mercer	20	16	23	14	73
UCF	8	15	14	27	64

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Women’s Basketball Claims Season Opener over Knights

11/10/2017 9:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: David Fox

ORLANDO, Fla. – Mercer opened the season with a 73-64 win over UCF as Sydni Means registered her fourth career double-double after notching 15 points and dishing out 12 assists. Kahlia Lawrence led the team in scoring with a game-high 26 points, while KeKe Calloway chipped in 16 points including a game-high five triples.

STAT OF THE MATCH
The Bears finished the game shooting .471 from beyond the arc. Mercer averaged .295 percent from downtown during the 2016-17 season. The Bears held UCF to just .286 from three in the victory.

PLAYER OF THE GAME
Sydni Means proved to be the difference maker in tonight's contest. The senior guard finished the game with her fourth career double-double, proving why she is the nation's top returner in assist-to-turnover ratio. Means finished the contest with 12 assists and just three turnovers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer jumped out to a 12-point advantage at the conclusion of the first quarter, leading the Knights 20-8. Leading 5-4, the Bears finished the quarter on a 15-4 run thanks to 11 combined points from Lawrence and Calloway.

The second frame proved to be closer, however the Bears claimed the 16-15 advantage in the second quarter. Calloway finished with six points in the quarter, shooting two-of-three from beyond the arc.

Mercer continued to put its foot on the gas out of the gate following halftime. The Bears added to their lead over UCF, claiming the third quarter by the score of 23-14. Lawrence posted another explosive quarter for Mercer, scoring 12 more points to bring her total to 24.

The Knights slowly chipped away at the Mercer lead but could not overcome the hot start from the Bears. UCF outscored Mercer 27-14 in the final stanza, but it was the Bears who came out on top with the 73-64 triumph in the season opener.

NOTABLES

Mercer improves to 5-3 in season openers under Head Coach Susie Gardner, including 1-2 on the road.
The Bears improve to 17-26 all-time against the Knights after claiming the 43^rd meeting between the squads.
Kahlia Lawrence registered her 81^st double-digit scoring game, including her 33^rd 20-point performance.
KeKe Calloway knocked down five of Mercer's eight triples en route to her 32^nd career double-digit output.
Rachel Selph rounded out the double-digit scorers, tacking on 10 points and pulling down four boards.
Coach Gardner notched win No. 291 following the victory over UCF.
Despite the win, Mercer lost the rebound battle as the Knights outrebounded the Bears 40-23.
The Mercer defense proved to be stingy and feisty, forcing 27 turnovers which is the most since forcing 28 against Houston on Nov. 25, 2016.

COACH'S CORNER
"I thought we played really well for three quarters," said Gardner. "Keke and Kahlia shot the ball well from outside and Sydni ran the team and broke the press. I thought Rachel was outstanding inside. We just didn't finish the way we would have liked to. UCF is a really good basketball team and I am proud of the effort we brought in our first game. This was a good start to the season."

RECORDS UPDATE

Mercer: 1-0
UCF: 0-1

NEXT GAME

Mercer at Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at FAU Arena in Boca Raton, Fla.

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB(Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.