Women Squeak by Lipscomb

Adam Hunt
Sports Columnist / Reporter

Mercer’s women’s basketball team snatched an impressive victory over Lipscomb in their Atlantic Sun Conference opener at the University Center.

Despite a somewhat lackluster start, the Bears fought back thanks to some rousing offensive play from senior guard Courtney Ford to clinch the 65-59 win.

In the first half, the Bison raced to a 16-6 lead in the opening six minutes of play with junior Hannah Phillips finding her range, adding four points.

With their backs against the wall and struggling to find any rhythm, Mercer were in desperate need of some inspiration.

Thankfully, that inspiration came in the shape of Ford, the reigning two-time A-Sun Player of the Week, whose fast footwork sparked a lights-out 24-2 scoring run for the home team.

Behind by seven and with the interval fast approaching, Lipscomb coach Frank Bennett attempted to break the Bears’ momentum by calling a timeout.
But it appeared nothing could stop Mercer’s surge as they continued to drive home their advantage, 31-18 to the good.

A tidy lay-up from the Bison’s Leah McAlister concluded the opening 20 minutes with the score at 31-20.

Lipscomb still looked off the pace in the opening stages of the second half as the Bears began to consolidate their lead with a 16 point advantage just four minutes in.
However, they would not go quietly, mounting one final charge with eight minutes left on the clock.

Mercer were ahead by 10 but began to take their foot off the pedal and committed a series of fundamental errors. The Bison’s Jenna Bartsokas then burst into action with six points in a three-minute salvo to slice the lead to one.


Bears head coach Janell Jones was far from happy, urging her team to find their form once again.

It was senior LaToya Jackson who steadied the ship thanks to her pin-point accuracy on free throws. She went on a seven point run and drained six straight from the charity stripe to squeeze the last life out of Lipscomb’s comeback.
Jackson finished the game with 17 points to lead the Bears on offense whilst Ford, who was forced to limp off with leg cramps four minutes from the end, registered her fourth double-double in five contests and notched 14 points overall.