Feb. 4, 2002

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Sarah Clement scored a season-high 15 points and Noot Pittman recorded her second double-double of the season but Samford could not overcome a poor first half as the Bulldogs fell 73-63 at Mercer on Monday night in Atlantic Sun women's basketball action.

Samford scored as season-low 19 points in the first half on six of 27 shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs committed 14 turnovers in the first half and were out-rebounded 25-19 in the opening period.

Mercer (11-8, 8-4 A-Sun) got back-to-back three point baskets by Dana Zimmerman to break open a 10-10 tie with 12:45 remaining. Zimmerman would add a third three-point shot as the Bears hit six treys in the first half to outscore the Bulldogs 28-9 the rest of the half and take a 38-19 lead into halftime.

The second half was a completely different story. Samford began the second half with a 15-10 run to pull to within 48-34 with 14:04 to play. Clement scored 13 second half points on five of six shooting in second stanza. The Bulldogs began to hit the glass as Pittman grabbed seven second half boards as she finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Samford out-rebounded Mercer 28-11 in the second period to finish the game with a 47-36 advantage on the glass.

Mercer continued to force Samford into turnovers which kept the Bulldogs at a double figure deficit the entire second half. The Bears answered Samford's run with a 13-8 run to take a 61-42 lead with 7:07 to play. The Bulldogs outscored Mercer 21-12 the rest of the game but never got closer than 10-points.

Mercer was led by 16 points from Jo Shaw who was five of ten from the floor and three of five from three-point range. April Dyer added 12 points for the Bears.

Samford's Morgan Vickery recorded a career-high 11 rebounds before fouling out with seven points. The Bulldogs committed 28 turnovers and forced Mercer into 19 turnovers.

Samford will return home to face Stetson on Saturday Feb. 9. The game will be the second half of a double header which will begin at 2 p.m. with the men's game between Samford and Stetson. The women's game will begin a half hour after the men's at approximately 4:15 p.m.