BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Mercer guard Kahlia Lawrence hit a three-pointer as time expired to give the Bears' women's basketball team a 63-60 Southern Conference win at Samford Saturday afternoon in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
"She's a heck of a player and she made a great play," Samford head coach Mike Morris said of the game-ending shot. "It was a tough shot and it was well-defended."
 
Samford took a 60-57 lead with 44 seconds left on a jumper by Taylor Reece. Mercer tied the game at 60-60 on a three-pointer by Linnea Rosendal with 34 seconds to go. Samford was unable to convert on its next possession, setting the stage for Lawrence's game-winner.
 
"This is what conference games are all about," Morris said. "They're a good team and I think we're a good team, they just made one more play than we did. I'm super proud of our effort. Now we have to bounce back and get ready for another game."
 
Samford was led in the game by Reece with 14 points and seven rebounds. Destiney Elliott had 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Lydia McGee, playing in her first game since suffering an injury at Jacksonville State on Nov. 24, scored 10 points and dished out five assists.
 
Lawrence led Mercer with 18 points and five rebounds. Sydni Means had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Bears. Amanda Thompson added nine points for Mercer.
 
In the first quarter, Mercer jumped out to an early lead, racing out to a 12-2 advantage with 1:38 left in the period following a jumper by Lawrence. A layup by Amara Mayers and a jumper by McGee to close out the first period cut the Mercer lead to 12-6.
 
Samford opened the second quarter with a 15-2 run to take a 21-14 lead with 5:29 left in the quarter after a three-pointer by Cassidy Williams. Mercer fought back to cut the lead to two points at 22-20 with 3:47 left in the period after a jumper by Lawrence. Samford pushed the lead back out to six at 26-20 with 1:41 left on a three-pointer by Brittany Stevens. Samford took a 27-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Mercer cut the Samford lead to one point at 28-27 with 6:43 left in the third quarter after a jumper by Means. With Samford leading, 32-29, Mercer scored seven of the next nine points to take a 36-34 lead with 4:17 to go after a three-point play by Alex Williams. Mercer stretched its lead out to five points at 44-39, but Samford fought back to cut the lead to two points at 45-43 heading into the final period.
 
In the fourth quarter, with Mercer holding a 49-45 lead, Samford went on a 7-0 run to take a 52-49 lead with 5:12 to go on a layup by Reece. Mercer fought back to cut the lead to one at 58-57 with 1:06 left on a jumper by Lawrence.
 
Reece's jumper gave Samford a 60-57 lead before Rosendal tied the game with a three-pointer with 34 seconds to go. Lawrence then nailed her three-pointer just before the buzzer sounded to give the Bears the 63-60 win.
 
As a team, Samford made 43.8 percent of its shots from the floor, while Mercer shot 36.2 percent. Mercer won the rebounding battle, 34-31. The Bears had 13 offensive rebounds, to Samford's seven. Samford was 13-of-20 from the free-throw line, while Mercer made 18 of its 20 attempts from the charity stripe.
 
Samford falls to 10-8 overall and 2-1 in Southern Conference play. Mercer improves to 13-5 overall and 3-0 in league play.
 
Samford will return to action on Jan. 21, when the Bulldogs host East Tennessee State. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.