BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team dropped a 73-59 decision to Southern Conference-leading Mercer Saturday afternoon in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 8-10 overall and 0-3 in SoCon play. Mercer improves to 16-2 overall and 3-0 in league games.
 
Samford was led in the game by Olivia Crozier with 12 points and eight rebounds. Charity Brown scored nine points and dished out four assists, while Samantha Fitzgerald added eight points for the Bulldogs.
 
For Mercer, two-time SoCon Player of the Year Kahlia Lawrence led the way with 31 points. Amanda Thompson, KeKe Calloway and Sydni Means added 10 points each for the Bears. Means also dished out six assists for Mercer.
 
The teams traded baskets early in the first quarter before Samford was able to take a four-point lead at 14-10 and 16-12. The Bulldogs held a five-point lead at 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Samford stretched its lead to seven points at 21-14 with 9:45 left in the second quarter after two free throws by Hannah Nichols. With Samford leading 26-19, Mercer went on a 12-4 run to take a 31-30 lead with 4:37 left in the period after a three-pointer by Lawrence. A Crozier basket gave Samford the lead again at 32-31, but Mercer scored the final eight points of the quarter to take a 39-32 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford came back to cut the Mercer lead to five points at 41-36 with 6:57 left in the third quarter after a layup by Crozier. Mercer, however went on another 8-0 run to push its lead to 13 points at 49-36 with 4:46 left in the period after a jumper by Lawrence. The Bears held a 59-45 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
 
Mercer maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the fourth quarter, with Samford unable to get closer than 11 points. The Bears eventually came away with a 14-point victory at 73-59.
 
As a team, Samford shot 46.2 percent for the game, while Mercer shot 47.0 percent. Mercer won the rebounding battle, 34-33. Samford committed 18 turnovers, to just five for Mercer.
 
Samford will return to action on Jan. 18, when the Bulldogs host Western Carolina. The game is part of the Education Day initiative, and will tip at 12 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center.