DeLand, Fla. - Visiting Mercer (10-8, 7-2 Atlantic Sun) used a late 14-4 run to put away a shorthanded but determined effort by the Stetson women's basketball team (3-15, 3-6 A-Sun), notching a 69-57 win over the Hatters at the Edmunds Center Thursday night. Junior forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) led Stetson with a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double while freshman guard/forward Simone Taylor (Delray Beach, Fla.) scored a career-high 15 points. The game was delayed one hour and 45 minutes at the outset as a severe thunderstorm swept through DeLand, knocking out the power to the Edmunds Center in the process.
Down 28-22 at halftime, the Hatters roared out of the locker room with an 8-4 spurt, taking a 32-30 lead on a Conner layup with 17:39 left to play. Mercer center Lacy Ramon tied the game 47 seconds later and after a LaToya Jackson basket on its next possession, the Bears never trailed again. Stetson found itself within five points with 6:42 remaining but Mercer pulled away on the strength of a 14-4 run. Jackson's three-pointer with 3:18 left made it a 63-48 ballgame and put the game out of reach.
Taylor made seven of eight free throw attempts en route to more than doubling her previous career scoring high, which was seven points at St. John's on December 1. She also grabbed five rebounds. Senior forward Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) also reached double figures, notching 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore guard Lyllique Roman (Poinciana, Fla.) dished out a career-high four assists while junior center Natasha Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) pulled down nine rebounds.
Ramon was the star of the show for Mercer, putting up 20 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three assists. LaToya Jackson (13 points, five assists), Courtney Ford (10 points, four steals) and Lindsey Lowrie (10 points) joined her in double figures.
The Hatters will look to get back on track Saturday when they host A-Sun rival Kennesaw State. Tip-off from the Edmunds Center is slated for 3 p.m. with Live Stats and Hatter Vision with Bill Topping and Dee Romine available as always at www.GoHatters.com.
