March 1, 2018

Box Score |   

The Basics
Score: No. 1 Seed #25 Mercer 75, Western Carolina 44
Records: Western Carolina 5-25, Mercer, 28-2
Location: U.S. Cellular Center, Asheville, N.C.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - No. 8 seed Western Carolina wrapped up the 2017-18 season with a 75-44 loss to No. 1 seed, and 25th ranked, Mercer Thursday in the opening round of the 2018 Southern Conference Championships.

The Bears broke open a close game late in the first quarter. Leading 14-11, Khalia Lawrence's 3-pointer kick-started a 13-3 run that pushed the lead to 27-14 after Linnea Rosendal's jumper midway through the second. Western Carolina's Nikki Johnson answered with a three and the Catamounts got within nine, 27-18, on JonTay Mitchem's free throw. After that, Mercer took control. A 20-2 spurt over the next 10 minutes made it 47-20 Bears. It got no closer than 21 the rest of the way.

SoCon Player of the Year Lawrence scored 23 to lead the Bears. KeKe Calloway and Amanda Thompson added 18 and 12 points, respectively. Johnson had 17 points to pace the Catamounts.

Turning Point
The Bears broke open a close game late in the first quarter. Leading 14-11, Lawrence's 3-pointer kick-started a 13-3 run that pushed the lead to 27-14 after Linnea Rosendal's jumper mid-way through the second.

Individual Leaders
- Western Carolina's Johnson scored 17 of the Catamounts' 44 points, making 50 percent overall (6-for-12) and from 3-point range (4-for-8).
- Mitchem ripped down eight rebounds for WCU.
- Bonner ended her career with four points, four rebounds, and two blocks. - Lawrence scored a game-leading 23 points.

Inside the Box Score
- Mercer held a +22 turnover margin, forcing 24 while giving up just two. That led to a 28-0 advantage in points off turnovers. - UNCG was 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes of the game.
- The Bears had a 19:2 assist-to-turnover ratio. The two turnovers are the fewest this season, besting four in home wins over Winthrop and Chattanooga.
- The Catamounts had just one steal in the game while Mercer had six.
- Five of Western Carolina's 16 field goals in the game were behind the three-point line.

Quotable 
Head Coach Stephanie McCormick on the team's performance: "First and foremost, it's been a tough season for us. We've overcome a lot of adversity. This was a tough loss for us. I'm so proud of our team. After all we've gone through. I'm really proud of how we finished the season."

News & Notes
- Western Carolina ended the season on a five-game losing streak.
- Bonner finished her career with 142 blocks after two against Mercer. That's one short of the Catamounts record held by Shauna Terry (2011-14).

For the latest information on Catamount women's basketball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.