BOX SCORE (PDF)

MACON, Ga. – In a close, hard-fought battle throughout, the Samford women's basketball team dropped a heart-breaking 48-45 decision at Southern Conference-leading Mercer Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Arena.
 
The Bulldogs' Raven Omar's three-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime, just missed, giving the Bears their 20^th-straight win.
 
Samford was led in the game by Samantha Fitzgerald with 11 points and seven rebounds. Charity Brown and Shauntai Battle added eight points each for the Bulldogs.
 
For Mercer, KeKe Calloway scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Rachel Selph added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Bears.
 
Samford jumped out to an early 6-3 lead with 5:23 left in the first quarter following a jumper by Fitzgerald. Mercer closed the quarter with a 15-5 run to take an 18-11 at the end of the first period.
 
After Mercer built its lead out to 11 points at 22-11, Samford came back to cut the lead to seven at 22-15 with 7:05 left in the second period after a jumper by Omar. Mercer pushed its lead back out to 10 points at 25-15 on a three-pointer by Kayla Potts with 6:04 left in the quarter. With Mercer leading, 28-18, Samford's Battle and Brown hit back-to-back layups to cut the lead to six points at 28-22 heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford cut the lead to two points at 28-26 with 6:31 left in the third period after a basket by Ta'Naisha Hill. The Bulldogs closed to within one point twice in the third quarter at 30-29 and again at 33-32, but Mercer ended the period with a 37-32 advantage.
 
Mercer pushed its lead out to seven points at 43-36 with 5:56 left in the game after a pair of free throws by Sydni Means. Samford, however scored the next five points to cut the lead to two points again at 43-41 with 3:42 left after a layup by Battle.
 
After Mercer extended its lead to 45-41, Samford fought back to close to within one point at 46-45 with six seconds left on a layup by Hannah Nichols. Means then made a pair of free throws to make the score 48-45. On Samford's final possession, Omar's game-tying three-point attempt just missed, ending the game in a Mercer three-point win.
 
As a team, Samford shot 38 percent, while Mercer made 31 percent of its shots. Samford won the rebounding battle, 38-36.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 12-13 overall and 4-6 in SoCon games. Mercer improves to 23-2 overall and 10-0 in league play.
 
Samford will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 15, when the Bulldogs play at UNCG. The game is schedule for a 6 p.m. (CT) start from Greensboro, N.C.