MACON, Ga. – The Wofford women's basketball team could not crack the Mercer University defense Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Arena. Despite three double-digit scorers, including a double-double from Alexis Tomlin, the Terriers lost 67-53 to the Bears to snap a four-game winning streak. Wofford drops to 8-10 overall, 3-1 in the SoCon. Mercer improves to 12-6, 5-1 in the league.
 
Mercer outpaced Wofford in each shooting mark, scoring 44.4 percent overall and 30.0 percent from three, whereas the Terriers only shot 34.5 percent and 20.0 percent from three. Wofford did outrebound Mercer, 40-35. But the Bears utilized their stout defense to win to game, forcing 22 Terrier turnovers, a new season-high for Wofford. This led to 21 points off turnovers for Mercer, including 11 via fast break. The Terriers only forced 13 Bear turnovers for eight points.
 
"Give Mercer a lot of credit," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "I think they were really locked in today on both ends. They're a really talented team. They're long and athletic, and they really caused us problems on defense. And they shot the ball really well, too. At the end of the day, we just had too many turnovers. It's really tough to win on the road, and it's even tougher when you're giving the other team 22 extra chances. The points off turnovers really hurt us."
 
Three Terriers scored in double figures, led by Reagan Rapert with a career-high-tying 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 2-of-5 from distance. She also topped the Terriers with three assists, adding three boards and two steals as well. Alexis Tomlin posted her fourth double-double of the season, sixth career, on 13 points and 11 rebounds, which paced the squad. She was 4-of-7 shooting, and senior was a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. Lilly Hatton contributed 11 points as the final double-digit scorer on a 5-of-11 clip, also tallying six rebounds. Annabelle Schultz and Jackie Carman each totaled five points, pulling down five and three boards, respectively. Helen Matthews rounded out the scoring with two points.
 
Alexis Tomlin started the game off with a layup, but Mercer would immediately tie it on the other end and take a lead. This set a precedent for the remainder of the first half. The Terriers responded as Reagan Rapert and Lilly Hatton swished consecutive buckets to put Wofford back in front. A six-point Mercer run regained the lead for the Bears, 10-6, at the 5:43 mark. After trading scores, Mercer jumped out to a six-point lead with 4:13 remaining. Lilly Hatton made a free throw, and Rapert's triple at the 2:05 mark brought the Terriers within two. The Bears would score the next five, however, but a Helen Matthews score in the final seconds kept it close. Wofford trailed only 19-14.
 
Annabelle Schultz opened the second quarter with a three, bringing Wofford again within two. The squads traded blows, and Lilly Hatton evened the contest with a bucket at 7:41. Mercer responded with a 10-point run, though, to lead 31-21 at the 2:34 mark. The teams traded scores, and Mercer punctuated the half with a jumper to lead 35-23.
 
Showing no quit, the Terriers came out of the break swinging. Reagan Rapert started things off with a layup. Though Mercer responded, Rapert would score again followed by a Jackie Carman bucket. The Bears secured a bucket to get back to 10 ahead at 6:43, but Wofford hit back-to-back threes via the left-handers, Carman and Rapert, to pull within four. The squads secured offsetting scores, and then the Terriers came through. Alexis Tomlin took charge to swish consecutive layups to tie the affair, the second of which drew a foul. She sank the and-one free throw, and the Terriers led by one with 2:51 remaining in the frame. The lead did not last long, however, as a six-point Mercer run put the Bears back on top to conclude the third quarter. Wofford trailed 47-42.
 
The run extended to eight points with a Mercer bucket to open the final frame. Reagan Rapert ended the run with a jumper to bring Wofford back within five, but the Bears scored the next five points to halt any Terrier momentum. The squads traded a few blows, and Mercer broke the step-for-step streak with four consecutive points to lead by 14 at the 4:19 mark. Lilly Hatton scored, but it was immediately nixed by a Bear bucket. Alexis Tomlin then secured two-straight trips to the free throw line, knocking down all four attempts to bring Wofford within 10 again with 1:20 remaining. The Bears scored on the ensuing position, though, to put the game out of reach. The Bears would net a pair of free throws to end the game as Wofford could not get another shot to fall. The Terriers could not comeback, losing 67-53.
 
"But we'll bounce back," added Garrity. "We'll be together. We're looking forward to taking tomorrow off and coming back Monday locked in and dialed in for Chattanooga."
 
Wofford returns home after two weeks on the road, hosting Chattanooga on Thursday, Jan. 27 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. Tipoff against the Mocs is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The Terriers then host the East Tennessee State Buccaneers on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 2:00 p.m.