January 24, 2011

Dolphins Squeak Past Bears in OT, Williams Nets 41

MACON, Ga. – Freshman guard Briana Williams netted a University Center-record 41 points as Mercer fell in overtime to Jacksonville, 80-78 in Monday evening’s Atlantic Sun women’s basketball game.

Jacksonville moved to 9-9 (4-5 A-Sun) while the Bears dropped their 12^th-straight and fell to 1-17 (1-8 A-Sun).

Williams’ 41 points established the highest single-game output for a men’s or women’s player in the University Center’s seven-year history.  Williams’ topped James Florence’s record of 39 points - set versus Jacksonville on Feb. 16, 2007.

Williams scored 23 of Mercer’s last 29 points including 19 of the team’s last 23 points in regulation.

Mercer trailed by as many as 13 (53-40) with 14:53 to go in the second half before employing a 16-4 charge over the next 4:02 to bring the hosts within one.  Williams fueled the Mercer charge, scoring 11 of the Bears’ 16 points, including a pair of three-point field goals.

Later in the half, Mercer trailed 66-63 before Williams drove the lane, hit a layup and got fouled.  Williams’ subsequent free throw gave Mercer its first tie since the scoreboard read 11-11 early in the first half.

The final 5:49 of regulation and the five-minute overtime session saw seven tie scores and five lead changes, with no team holding greater than a two point advantage.

Mercer trailed by two with 59 seconds to go in overtime, following an Ashanti Williams jumper that saw the Dolphins take a 80-78 lead.

Mercer squandered final-minute chances to tie the game as Williams was ruled out of bounds on the side line and Boykin was called for a five-second call on an inbounds play with 26 seconds left.

Jacksonville failed to seal the victory however, as Williams missed both a jumper and a free throw in the final minute.  On the missed free throw, Mercer’s Alex Phillips corralled the defensive rebound, giving Mercer possession and a chance to tie with 22 seconds left.

In the final 16 seconds, Mercer had two solid looks at layups but could not cash in on either attempt.  Jacksonville’s Williams missed another free throw with three seconds remaining, but Mercer could not get off a last-second heave.

Mercer sophomore Shari Smith collected a career-high 14 rebounds while adding seven points in the losing effort.  Freshman Brittnee Hazel contributed 16 points, five rebounds and four steals in the loss.

Jacksonville out-rebounded Mercer 60-40, led by senior Lynsey Paschal’s game-high 16 boards.

Jacksonville saw three players record double-double efforts on Monday evening.  Senior Gigi Thomas had 14 points and 11 rebounds while Taneskei Richardson scored 14 and grabbed 10 rebounds.  Paschal added 12 points to her 16 rebound effort.

Mercer returns to action at Kennesaw State on Wednesday evening.  Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.