Davidson Drops Final Non-Conference Game to Mercer, 67-60

Thursday, December 29

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College

2-10

Mercer

10-3

Mercer

Davidson

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Davidson Drops Final Non-Conference Game to Mercer, 67-60

12/29/2016 10:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Associate SID

Box Score (pdf)
Game Highlights | In-Game Highlights
DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Davidson women's basketball team wrapped up its non-conference slate of games with a tough 67-60 setback to visiting Mercer Thursday evening on the hardwood inside John M. Belk Arena.

Davidson fell to 2-10 overall, while Mercer moved to 10-3 on the season.

Despite a second straight double-double from Mackenzie Latt (12 points, game-high 13 rebounds) and a 22-point outing from Justine Lyon, the Wildcats had to play from behind for all but 57 seconds of the game.

Lyon, who added five rebounds, three assists and three steals, had 12 of her points on 5-of-5 shooting in the third quarter when Davidson outscored Mercer, 23-16, and got within two (43-41) on the sophomore's three-ball with 1:22 left in the quarter.

Mercer pushed its lead to a game-high 10 points (59-49) on a 10-2 run to start the third quarter, but Davidson made one last push by getting to within three at 59-56 after Ally Welling's layup off a pass from Lyon with 4:25. Another Welling bucket with 1:53 left made it 63-58 before Mercer sealed the win with four free throws in the final 47 seconds. The 'Cats hit just one of its final four attempts in that span.

Mercer's Kahlia Lawrence scored a game-high 27 points and pulled in 10 rebounds, while Sydni Means finished with 11 points and dished out half of the Bears' 14 assists. Mercer took advantage of 24 Wildcat miscues and turned those into 23 points, while it hauled in 21 of its 43 rebounds on offense.

Davidson tallied its sixth consecutive 40-rebound game with 43 boards, while hauling in 10 on offense.

Chloe Johnson filled the stat-sheet with four points, a season-best six rebounds and seven assists. Saadia Timpton had six rebounds, while Welling finished with eight points off the bench.

After Latt swished home the first basket of the game, Mercer went on 11-0 run and ended the first quarter up 15-12. It went up nine (25-16) on a jumper from Lawrence and closed out the first half with a three-pointer for a 33-24 lead.

The Wildcats shot a game-high 44.4 percent from the floor, while holding its fourth opponent on the season to under 35 percent.

Davidson opens Atlantic 10 play on New Year's Eve Saturday at 11 a.m. against Saint Louis.

GAME NOTES: This was the fourth meeting all-time between the two schools women's basketball programs, dating back to the first meeting, Nov. 29, 1996 … the series is now tied at 2-all … with her 12-point outing, Latt is now 49 points away from reaching the 1,000-mark for her career … the double-double was the 16th of her career and third of the season … she pushed her double-figure points streak to nine straight … … Davidson reached the 40-rebound mark for the eighth time overall … the Wildcats dished 15 assists and have collected 66 in the past four games combined … the 10 offensive rebounds gave Davidson a streak of 13 straight games with double-digit boards on offense … Lyon is averaging 21.3 points in the past three games.