Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball opened Southern Conference play with a 68-51 loss to conference newcomer Mercer Saturday in the Ramsey Center.

The Catamounts fall to 8-8 on the season and 0-1 in the SoCon while Mercer improves to 9-8 and 1-0 in SoCon play.

Mercer came out with hot shooting and never really cooled down . The Bears scored the opening basket in the game, a jumper by Alicia Williams, and never trailed in the contest.

In the opening 11 minutes, Mercer quickly built a 13 point, 19-6, lead. Western Carolina scored just six points in that span. WCU finally moved into double figure scoring on back-to-back three pointers by Makensey Campbell and Ace Easter, with 4:55 left in the first half, with the score 25-12.

After Easter's three pointer, Mercer outscored Western Carolina 13 to six in the final four minutes of the half to build a 38-18 advantage heading into the locker room.

Western Carolina held Mercer's leading scorer Precious Bridges, averaging 21.3 points per game, to four points in the first half. Bridges scored 14 second-half points, falling below her per game average, ending the contest with 18.

As has been the case in previous games when the Catamounts have had a slow start in the first half, Western Carolina had stronger showing in the final 20 minutes outscoring Mercer 33-30.

Western Carolina struggled to find a way to stop Mercer inside as the Bears scored 42 of its points inside the paint. The Bears also got 14 points off 11 WCU turnovers.

Mercer shot a brisk 50 percent from the field to Western Carolina's 33.3 percent. The Bears also pounded the glass ripping down 39 rebounds, 23 on the defensive end, to Western Carolina's 29.

Western Carolina had three players just miss scoring in double figures with Justin Taylor, Erika Joseph and Easter each pouring in nine points. Sherae Bonner had a solid third game back from injury with seven points and six rebounds.

Mercer had three players score in double figures with Williams leading all scorers with 21, Bridges following with her 18 and Kahlia Lawrence rounding out with 10.

Western Carolina completes its three-game home stand at noon Monday hosting Samford as part of the Catamounts' annual Education Day - allowing area school children to attend the game. The game will be free and open to the public.