MACON, GA – The Wofford women's basketball team played a close game against Mercer on Friday, coming out on the wrong side of a 54-47 win by the Bears. The Terriers had the lead for just over 16 minutes, but Mercer outscored Wofford 19-9 in the final frame to come away with it.

The loss drops Wofford to 4^th in the SoCon standings with a 7-5 record (11-8) while Mercer stays in 2^nd going to 8-2 (14-5). Even with the loss, with two games remaining Wofford has secured a top four finish in the conference.

Jamari McDavid got the first points for Wofford as she was able to control a tipped ball in the offensive zone and convert for a layup which tied the score early, 2-2. Lilly Hatton swished a three from the corner off the pass from Jackie Carman, and McDavid put away a layup from Niyah Lutz. Hatton tied the game at 10 with another triple, and Alea Harris dropped a trey from the wing for Wofford's first lead of the game, 13-10. Out of the media timeout, McDavid made her third layup, this time with the right hand. Mercer ended Wofford's 13-2 run as an exciting 1^st quarter came to an end, 15-15.

Carman came out and scored the first bucket of the 2^nd quarter, finishing on a contested layup to give the Terriers the lead back. Hatton and Lutz connected again on a lob to allow for an easy layup. Another pick-and-roll combo as this time it was Harris and McDavid to extend the lead, 21-15, as Mercer was held scoreless to this point. The Bears inched back within two before Harris hit a pair of free-throws, but it was a quiet 2^nd compared to the 1^st, as Wofford held a 23-21 advantage at the break.

Mercer scored the first basket of the 3^rd quarter and took the lead with two free-throws. Hatton was able to put Wofford on the board in the second half with her third 3-pointer of the night, making it a one-score game. The teams traded baskets has Hatton completed a three-point play and at the media timeout it was a 31-29 game in favor of the Bears. Harris tied the game with two free-throws, then gave the team the lead with a three. Alexis Tomlin scored her first points as her shot rimmed around the iron and fell through. The 3^rd quarter ended with Tomlin going around her defender and laying one in with the left hand for a 38-35 lead for the Terriers.

Mercer started the quarter on a 7-1 run before Lutz kissed one off the glass with the right hand. Harris was able to bring it to a one-score game with a free-throw, 46-43, as Wofford called a timeout with 5:18 remaining. Wofford was held to a 3:00 minute scoreless drought before Hatton took it to the rack and scored. The Terriers attempted two long threes at the end of the game, but it was all for not as Mercer took the game at the free-throw line.

Lilly Hatton and Alea Harris both found themselves in double figures with 17 and 11, respectively. Niyah Lutz had a team-high seven rebounds with Jamari McDavid right behind her at six. Alea Harris shared a game-high with four assists and went 5-6 (83%) from the charity stripe.

"That's certainly a tough game to lose, but give Mercer credit, they came out and hit some big shots late in the game. We played well throughout, but were unfortunate to see some of our shots not go in", said coach Jimmy Garrity. "I thought defensively we played good despite giving up 14 offensive rebounds, we held them to six second chance points. We're going to make adjustments and come out Sunday and give it our all."

Wofford wraps up its series with Mercer as they will clash one more time on Sunday, February 21. Tipoff is set for 2:00 pm.