Women's Basketball Earns Win over GCSU

Adam Hunt
Sports Reporter / Columnist

The Mercer women’s basketball team began their season in style with an 80-63 victory over Georgia rivals GCSU.

The exhibition game was part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer event, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Having been picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason polls, questions still linger over whether Mercer will be able to recreate the same success as they enjoyed last season.

But Mercer did much to quiet their doubters against the Bobcats, avenging their defeat in the same game last year with a convincing performance.

The vocal University Center crowd was treated to a volatile encounter. Despite GCSU’s obvious height advantage, the home team’s superior speed and agility quickly became a decisive factor.
Freshman guard Lindsey Lowrie found her range from distance, draining five-of-nine three-point shots to tally 19 points on the night.

Senior guard Courtney Ford posted a double-double effort, notching 12 points and 14 rebounds in the victory. Senior LaToya Jackson also finished in double-digit scoring, securing 13 points while contributing three steals, three assists and four rebounds.

GCSU struggled to find their form as a unit, but junior Mandi Dudish looked a cut above the rest as she led all scorers with 20 points. Bobcat sophomore Tammeisha Law recorded the away team’s only double-double, scoring 11 points and adding 14 boards.
Mercer head coach Janell Johnson was pleased with the display: “Our energy was really great in all areas of the court. This win gives the girls confidence, but it also gives them a reason to get back in the gym and work harder.”

The Bears will have to continue to work hard for each other given the potential difficulty of their upcoming schedule against national powerhouses such as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Mercer is back in action as they begin their regular season slate on the road at Oklahoma on Nov. 13. Be sure to pick up the next edition of The Cluster for full coverage from the game.