Mercer women knock off Samford for first place in Southern Conference

The game lived up to the expecations, and Mercer ended up walking away with a win and first place in the women's basketball race in the Southern Conference.

The Bears knocked off Samford in a close game for the second time this season with a 63-61 decision Saturday at Hawkins Arena to improve to 19-6 overall and 9-1 in conference play. Samford drops to 16-9 and 8-2. Mercer won the first meeting 60-57 last month.

In a back-and-forth game, there were nine lead changes, and the score was tied seven times. The biggest lead for both teams was five points.

THREE WHO MATTERED

Kahlia Lawrence: The sophomore hit 9-of-18 from the floor and scored 19 points, and she had eight rebounds. Lawrence scored 13 points in the second half.

Sydni Means: The sophomore point guard was 3-of-5 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line for 13 points, and she had six assists.

Linnea Rosendal: The freshman hit three 3-pointers and had 13 points.

TURNING POINT

Samford had a 57-53 lead with 4:13 left and appeared to have the momentum, but the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 10-4 the rest of the way.

OBSERVATIONS

Overcoming a slow start: Mercer trailed 11-9 at the end of the first quarter, hitting only 3-of-12 shots. The Bears made 21-of-36 the rest of the way.

Deep attack: Samford took 27 3-pointers (Mercer shot 14) and hit 12 (Mercer hit five). Taylor Reece was 4-of-9 but missed two 3-points in the final minute.

WORTH MENTIONING

Still rolling: Mercer has won 13 of its past 14 games and five straight.

THEY SAID IT

Mercer head coach Susie Gardner on the close game: "We had some adversity; it was up and down and back and forth. But our players found a way. As we have done all year, we simply found a way."

Means on the strong finish: "I just think we're fighters. We don't get deterred when things don't go exactly our way. We just keep working, and if we can get a stop, a score and a stop, then we can get back in any game."

Lawrence on the team being in first place: "I think it says what we really thought from the beginning, that we're a good team. And we can be great if we just continue to do what we're doing."

Lawrence on her strong second half: "I just missed a few shots (in the first half) that I usually make. Coming into the second half, I just figured I'd try to do things that I normally do, I'd try to get to the rim more, stop-and-pop shots. I think I just forced some shots in the first half and maybe in the second half some, too, but I knew once I got into a rhythm, that I'd be all right."

WHAT'S NEXT?

Mercer heads to East Tennessee State on Thursday.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Mercer women knock off Samford for first place in Southern Conference ."