Women's Basketball: Home Game Recaps

Adam Hunt
Senior Reporter / Columnist

02/08/2010 USC Upstate, L 78-87

Mercer senior guards Courtney Ford and LaToya Jackson lit up The University Center floor, combining to score 52 points, but their efforts were not enough to stop USC Upstate from securing an 87-78 Atlantic Sun Conference victory.

The Bears were sluggish early on and the physical play of the Spartans kept them in the lead for most of the contest. But with 3:27 left on the clock, Mercer stepped up their game to take a 76-74 lead thanks to the industrious duo of Jackson and Ford. However, a 13-4 run silenced the home side and secured the win for Upstate.

“Tonight came down to a couple defensive stops that we couldn't get,” said Mercer head coach Janell Jones after the game.

The triumph lifted the Spartans to 9-5 in the A-Sun while Mercer dropped its third-straight game to fall to 8-6.

02/18/2010 UNF, W 61-47

Mercer took to the court looking to get back on track and snap a five-game Conference losing streak. In the end, the visitors proved no match for the Bears’ lightning offense.

After Mercer had taken a considerable 10-point lead into half-time, UNF stormed back with a 7-0 run in the opening 4:29 of the second half to close within three points at 30-27. But the Bears held strong, striking back with a 14-6 charge over the next 8:14 to push its lead to 14.

Guards Courtney Ford and Niecey Lewis both notched 11 points on the night. Ford also pulled down five rebounds, dished out three assists and claimed three steals in the win. With her first steal of the game, Ford surpassed Jessica Miller as the program’s single-season steals leader.

“It was a great win to get us back on track,” said Mercer head coach Janell Jones. “I thought we played really good defense. Our bench gave us quality minutes and offensive production.”

The victory pushed Mercer to 8-8 in the A-Sun while UNF’s troubles continued as they fell to 6-11.

02/20/2010 Jacksonville, W 63-46

It was Senior Day at The UC and sure enough Mercer seniors Courtney Ford and LaToya Jackson combined for 32 points and showed exactly why they will be so hard to replace next season.

After surrendering the opening field goal of the game, a 17-point run helped Mercer take a 32-29 lead into half-time. Their dominance continued in scoring the first six points of the second period to build the lead to nine. The lackluster Jacksonville were held to just 7-for-26 shooting as the Bears ran amok before clinching the 17-point victory, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Ford scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Jackson added 11 points. Sophomore forward Lacy Ramon narrowly missed a double-double as she went for 14 points and nine rebounds.

“I thought we had great energy today,” head coach Janell Jones reflected after the game. “We battled hard in a very fierce encounter.”

The win improved Mercer to 10-8 in Conference play while the Dolphins were pegged back further to 7-11. The Bears now know that if they can secure two wins next weekend at Belmont and Lipscomb they will be seeded second for the A-Sun Championships in March.