Mercer Uproots Southern Miss In A-Sun Game of the Week - Atlantic Sun Conference Official Site

» NEWS » SCHEDULE » CHAMPIONSHIP

ATLANTICSUN.ORG

12/15/2005 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Mercer Uproots Southern Miss In A-Sun Game of the Week

RSS

Mercer Uproots Southern Miss In A-Sun Game of the Week

Erin Keller led the Bears with 18 points, and sank three of five 3-point attempts.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. � In a contest pitting pupil against teacher, the student came out on the winning end.� Three players finished in double digits, as the Mercer women's basketball team defeated Southern Miss, 51-49.

I can't describe the feeling after this win," said Mercer head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols.� "I have mixed emotions because [USM coach] Joye Lee-McNelis taught me so much, but it brings me great joy for my team to come out of this with a win."

�

Down by four at the 6:28 mark in the first half, Mercer (2-5) took the lead on an 11-0 run over the next four minutes.� Zsaquez Flucker hit a jumper in transition to get things started and Courtney Hall hit a pair of 3-pointers to push the Bears over the top.� Sarah Russell hit a jumper with 2:28 remaining to cap the run.

�

Southern Miss (3-6) trimmed the lead with three-consecutive points from Kendra Reed in the final 23 seconds, as Mercer led 24-20 at halftime.

�

The Lady Eagles pushed ahead, 31-30, with a 6-0 spurt early in the second frame.� A pair of treys from Erin Keller put the Bears ahead with 11:21 left in the game, 37-36.

�

After desperation 3-pointer from Ashley Harrell cut the Mercer lead down to one with 1.8 seconds left, Sally Skeldon sealed the deal.� She converted her first foul shot and grabbed the rebound after missing the second, giving Mercer the two-point victory.

��

Ashley Boehnel, who got the Lady Eagles back in the game with her 3-point shooting, led USM in scoring with 17 points.� Amber Eugene pitched in 10 points, while Liz Biland led all rebounders with 12.

�

Keller led the Bears in scoring with 18 points, going 3-for-5 from 3-point range.� Hall finished with 10 points off the bench, while Russell narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

�

"My team outwitted, outplayed and outlasted them," said Nichols.� "Being able to play with the lead was huge.� It showed our girls that we could truly win this game."

�

Mercer returns to action Monday, Dec. 19, against New Orleans at noon.� Admission is free to fans who donate a toy, which will go to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.