Mercer Falls To Alabama In WNIT

Thursday, March 16

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

8:00 PM ET

Mercer University

25-7

Alabama

20-13

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Mercer	8	22	10	17	57
Alabama	15	18	23	25	81

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3/16/2017 11:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Kahlia Lawrence scored a game-high 19 points and Sydni Means added 15, but it was not enough on Thursday as the Mercer women's basketball team fell to Alabama in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

The Bears end the 2016-17 season with a 25-7 record and for the second straight season, Mercer set a program record for wins in the NCAA DI era. Mercer also earned a postseason bid for the third straight year and for the first time in program history recorded three consecutive 20-win seasons.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama took a 4-0 lead in the first minute and controlled the game throughout the first quarter. Mercer made enough shots to keep the Crimson Tide from running away with the game early, but Alabama led 15-8 after 10 minutes of play. Alabama opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run to go up 25-12 with 6:15 remaining in the half. After another few baskets for each team, the Bears were down by 14. Following over a minute of scoreless play, KeKe Calloway hit a fast-break layup with 2:13 on the clock to spark an 11-0 Mercer run. Calloway scored seven straight points and Lawrence added four as the Bears shutout the Crimson Tide in the final minutes of the half and cut Alabama's lead to 33-30 at intermission.

The game remained tight for the first four minutes of the third quarter, but Alabama hit three three-pointers on consecutive possessions as it went on a 13-0 run to stretch its lead to 16, 52-36, with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The teams went back and forth for the final minutes of the period as the Crimson Tide led 56-40 with 10 minutes left in the game. Alabama started and ended the fourth quarter strong, but Mercer put up a fight in the middle when the Bears went on a 13-4 run and cut Alabama's lead back down to 12, 67-55, with 3:17 to play. Unfortunately, Mercer was unable to sustain the momentum in the final minutes as Alabama pulled away again and worked its way to the final score of 81-57.

NOTABLES

Kahlia Lawrence scored a game-high 19 points and added five rebounds, two steals and an assist. Lawrence hit double figures for the 26^th time this season and the 80^th time in her career.
Sydni Means put up 15 points and had five rebounds, five assists and a steal. Means reached double digits for the 18^th time this season and the 32^nd time in her career.
Alex Williams led Mercer with eight rebounds and four steals while adding six points, two assists and a block.
KeKe Calloway notched nine points, a career-high three blocks, three rebounds and a steal.
Rachel Selph had six points and four rebounds, while Kayla Potts tallied six rebounds, two points, two steals and an assist.
Mercer committed just nine turnovers, while forcing 16 from Alabama. This marked the 30^th game this season in which Mercer won the turnover battle.

COACH GARDNER'S TAKE
"Although we didn't reach our ultimate goal of winning the Southern Conference Tournament and making it to the NCAA Tournament, I'm really proud of the fight we displayed all year. I feel like our players really represent Mercer with class on the court, off the court and in the community. I'm proud of the program that we've built and we're going to quickly start preparing for next year and give even more effort than we have in the past and hopefully reach the goal that we have set for this program."

RECORDS UPDATE

Mercer: 25-7
Alabama: 20-13

How to 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.