NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Mercer women’s basketball team defeated Detroit 64-55 on Saturday at the Human Performance Center. The Bears built a 38-27 halftime lead behind a strong first quarter and withstood multiple pushes from the Titans. Talia Kemp led Mercer with 16 points, while Nahawa Diarra added 14. Jasmine Edwards posted a double-double for Detroit with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Aaliyah McQueen also scored 13 for the Titans. Mercer forced 21 Detroit turnovers, converting them into 27 points. The Bears improved to 8-5 overall, while Detroit fell to 3-7.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears used a dominant first quarter and a resilient finish to secure a 64-55 victory over the Detroit Titans in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at the Human Performance Center. Mercer, which improved to 8-5, established control early, racing to a 23-14 lead after the opening period. The Bears’ defense was the catalyst, forcing seven Detroit turnovers in the first quarter alone and converting them into easy scoring opportunities. That set the tone for a game where Mercer’s pressure would be a constant theme, as they finished with 12 steals and scored 27 points off 21 Detroit turnovers. The Titans, who fell to 3-7, struggled to find consistent offense against Mercer’s aggressive schemes. Despite shooting a slightly better percentage from the field at 40.4% compared to Mercer’s 34.4%, Detroit’s possessions were often cut short by mistakes. Mercer’s ability to generate extra chances was also pivotal; the Bears grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, leading to a 15-5 advantage in second-chance points. After building the early lead, Mercer saw its advantage shrink in the third quarter. Detroit’s defense tightened, holding the Bears to just nine points in the period. A three-pointer by Detroit’s Maya Anderson with 10 seconds left in the third capped a 14-9 quarter for the Titans and cut Mercer’s lead to 47-41 heading into the final frame. The most critical sequence of the game came early in the fourth quarter when Detroit threatened to complete its comeback. The Titans closed to within four points on multiple occasions, the last at 48-44 following a free throw by Addisen Mastriano with 7:09 remaining. With momentum shifting, Mercer needed a response. The Bears found it through their veterans. Guard Talia Kemp, who led all scorers with 16 points, drove for a layup to push the lead back to six. On the ensuing Detroit possession, Abigail Holtman blocked a Myonna Hooper layup attempt, a play that ignited a decisive Mercer run. Stephanie Utomi secured the defensive rebound, and on the other end, Holtman found Kemp for another driving layup, extending the lead to 52-44 with 5:02 to play. Detroit never recovered from that pivotal defensive stop and quick-score combination. Mercer’s defense locked down, and the Bears sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 9 of 12 attempts in the fourth quarter. Nahawa Diarra, who contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, was instrumental in the closing minutes, hitting key free throws to keep Detroit at bay. For Mercer, the balanced effort was key. Beyond Kemp and Diarra, Abigail Holtman of Cincinnati added 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks, while Stephanie Utomi of Detroit, Michigan, chipped in eight points, six rebounds and two blocks. Elena Cabello of Malaga, Spain, added nine points. Detroit was led by a double-double from Jasmine Edwards, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Aaliyah McQueen also scored 13 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists. Myonna Hooper added 11 points for the Titans. The game, part of a multi-team event, was played in front of an announced crowd of 691. Mercer will look to continue its momentum against Delaware State on Sunday, also in New Orleans. Detroit will face Tulane on Sunday in its next contest.

Preview: Mercer Bears vs. Detroit Titans Women’s Basketball NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears and Detroit Titans meet in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup Saturday at the Human Performance Center. Mercer (7-5) enters on a two-game winning streak, including a dominant 91-37 victory over Erskine on Wednesday. The Bears have found success against mid-major competition but are 0-3 against Power Five opponents this season. Detroit (3-6) looks to snap a two-game skid after a 52-60 loss at Robert Morris on Tuesday. The Titans’ three wins have come at home, but this game is a neutral-site contest. A key matchup will feature Mercer’s Stephanie Utomi against Detroit’s Makayla Jackson. Utomi is coming off a career performance, scoring 24 points with six rebounds and four assists in just 23 minutes against Erskine. Jackson has been a consistent scorer for the Titans, averaging 12.2 points over her last five games while logging heavy minutes. Mercer’s offense runs through its post players. Against Erskine, RemiHope Drantmann grabbed 17 rebounds and Nahawa Diarra posted a triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Detroit will need to improve its offensive efficiency after shooting just 34.5% from the field against Robert Morris. The Titans have struggled against high-major competition, losing to Michigan and Wisconsin by a combined 86 points. This is the first meeting between the programs. The game is part of a multi-team event in New Orleans. Mercer faces Delaware State at the same venue Sunday, while Detroit travels to face Tulane. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.