LADY BEARCATS SCRATCH THEIR WAY BACK FOR OT WIN IN SAN ANTONIO OVER ST. MARY'S

December 19, 2003

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Alicia Mercer recorded her third double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds vs. St. Mary's..

SAN ANTONIO, TX . ... Gwyn Smith gave the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (7-1) the lead for good with 1:31 left in overtime when she nailed the jumper for the go ahead score, 60-59, as they went on for the 63-62 victory over St. Edwards University in the St. Edward's Classic. Alicia Mercer then hit another jumper for a three-point lead with 00:26 left and Smith again sealed the victory by making one of two free throws for a four-point lead. StMU hit a three-pointer with 00:04 left, but it was little to late as SBU went on for the victory.

Sophomore Amber Wheeler led the Lady Bearcats with 19 points. Alicia Mercer recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Smith added 12 rebounds.

It was a dreadful first half as SBU only shot 20% from the floor. The Lady Bearcats jumped out to an early six-point lead, 8-2, at the 13:13 mark but then hit a dry spell as they only scored eight more points the rest of the half. StMU tied the game at eight with 9:53 left. SBU responded with a 6-2 run for a four-point lead, 14-10, at the 4:54 mark. StMU answered back to end the half on a 9-2 run for a three point halftime lead, 19-16.

The Lady Bearcats battled back in the second half. StMU did extend their lead to six, 25-19, before SBU cut it to one, 25-24, with 17:47 to go. Then then tied the game at 29 (13:36), before StMU would regain the lead, 34-31 on a three pointer. StMU would run their lead to six again, 45-39, with 8:35 left in the game but SBU slowly grinded the lead down as the game wound down. With 5:01 left in the game, Jennifer Clymore put SBU within three with a layup and hten a minute later Mercer cut the lead to two on a free throw (4:04). After several missed shots by both teams, Clymore tied the game at 52 with only 1:48 left. At the 00:36 mark, Mercer put the Lady Bearcats up by two only to see the game tied at 54 with 00:18 left. SBU had a shot to win it, but Wheeler's shot fell short.

Once again, StMU ran out to a five-point lead, 59-54, in the first minute of overtime and once again the Lady Bearcats fought back. After StMU took a five-point lead, Mercer and Jenny Miller hit back to back jumpers to cut the lead to one, 59-58, at the 2:45 mark. With 1:31 left, Smith nailed the go ahead jumper as SBU never looked back for the victory.

SBU ended up shooting 37% from the floor after a disasterous first half (20%) and held StMU to 32% from the floor. There was no rebounding edge as both teams recorded 43 rebounds and both forced 14 turnovers.

The Lady Bearcats will be back in action on Saturday, December 20th, when they take on Incarnate Word at 5:30 p.m. in San Antonio.