CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Interstat) — Mercer used a dominant third-quarter surge to defeat Western Carolina 84-75 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Ramsey Center. The Bears, who led 32-31 at halftime, outscored the Catamounts 28-17 in the third period to take control. Mercer capitalized on 21 Western Carolina turnovers, converting them into 31 points. Ariana Bennett led Mercer with 18 points. Grace Pack scored a game-high 21 points for Western Carolina. Mercer improved to 11-5 overall, while Western Carolina fell to 3-12. The game was a Southern Conference matchup attended by 527 fans.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Mercer women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to overcome a halftime deficit and secure an 84-75 road victory over Western Carolina in a Southern Conference matchup Thursday night at the Ramsey Center. The Bears, who improved to 11-5 overall, trailed by seven points at intermission but outscored the Catamounts 28-17 in the pivotal third period to seize control. The win was built on defensive pressure and efficiency at the free-throw line, as Mercer forced 21 Western Carolina turnovers, converting them into 31 points, and made 30 of 38 attempts from the charity stripe. Western Carolina, which fell to 3-12, led 39-32 at halftime behind a balanced offensive effort. The Catamounts extended their lead to nine points early in the second quarter, but Mercer’s defensive intensity began to shift the momentum before the break. The game turned decisively in the third quarter. Mercer opened the period with a 7-0 run to tie the game, fueled by a Talia Kemp layup and a transition basket from Stephanie Utomi off a steal. After Western Carolina’s Grace Pack hit a three-pointer to briefly regain the lead, the Bears tightened their defense, creating turnovers and easy scoring opportunities. A critical sequence saw Mercer’s Nahawa Diarra convert a pair of free throws and then drill a three-pointer on the next possession, part of a larger run that gave the Bears a lead they would not relinquish. Mercer’s offense found its rhythm, attacking the paint and drawing fouls, while holding Western Carolina to just 5-of-15 shooting from the field in the quarter. Mercer carried a 60-56 lead into the fourth quarter and methodically extended its advantage. The Bears opened the final period with a quick basket from Ariana Bennett and maintained at least a two-possession cushion for the remainder of the game. Western Carolina closed to within four points on multiple occasions, but each time Mercer answered, often at the free-throw line. The Bears sealed the game in the final minute, making 5 of 6 free throws to put the contest out of reach. Kemp, a guard from Orlando, Florida, led Mercer with 14 points in just 23 minutes of action. Bennett, a forward from Edwardsville, Illinois, added 18 points and was instrumental in the second-half rally. Rania Curry of Augusta, Georgia, contributed 15 points and several key rebounds, while Diarra, from Barcelona, Spain, chipped in 13 points. Western Carolina was led by a game-high 21 points from Grace Pack, a 6-foot-2 forward from Richmond, Virginia. Guard Ally Hollifield of Shelby, North Carolina, posted 15 points and dished out eight assists, but also committed eight turnovers. Taj Hunter from Atlanta added 14 points and four assists for the Catamounts. Statistically, Mercer shot 44.6% from the field while holding Western Carolina to 45.1%. The Bears won despite being out-rebounded and making fewer three-pointers, underscoring the impact of their 21-7 advantage in steals and their significant edge in points off turnovers. Mercer’s offensive rating of 103.6 on 81 possessions outpaced Western Carolina’s 94.6 on 79 trips. The most important part of the game was Mercer’s third-quarter transformation. After a sluggish first half plagued by turnovers and defensive lapses, the Bears emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive ferocity. They forced seven Catamount turnovers in the quarter, translating them into 11 points. This defensive pressure ignited their transition game and allowed them to establish an inside presence, ultimately outscoring Western Carolina by 11 in the period to completely reverse the game’s trajectory. That 10-minute stretch proved the difference, as Western Carolina could never fully recover from the Bears’ sudden burst of both offensive execution and defensive disruption. Mercer continues its conference schedule on the road Saturday at UNC Greensboro. Western Carolina will remain at home to face Samford on Saturday.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging Mercer team visits a struggling Western Carolina squad to open Southern Conference play Thursday night at the Ramsey Center. The Mercer Bears (10-5) enter conference action with momentum, having won five of their last six games. Their most recent victory was a 66-55 home win over AUM on Jan. 2. Western Carolina (3-11) snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 91-44 rout of Montreat on Dec. 30, but has faced a daunting non-conference schedule. Mercer is powered by guard Abigail Holtman, who is coming off a stretch of dominant performances. Over her last five games, Holtman is averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest. She scored 27 points in an overtime road win at Tulane on Dec. 21 and added 18 points and four assists in the win over AUM. The Western Carolina Catamounts will counter with guard Ally Hollifield, their most consistent performer. Hollifield averaged 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in games against Indiana and Gardner-Webb before her 17-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist effort against Montreat. The Bears have found success with balanced scoring; in the win over AUM, Ariana Bennett added 15 points and Stephanie Utomi contributed nine points and three assists off the bench. Western Carolina’s Ary Dizon has been a key contributor alongside Hollifield, posting 12 points and eight rebounds in the Montreat game. Historically, Mercer has controlled the series, winning 12 of the last 13 meetings. The teams will meet again in Macon, Georgia, on Feb. 7. Thursday’s game tips off a critical stretch for both teams. Mercer visits UNC Greensboro on Saturday, while Western Carolina hosts Samford the same day.