Macon, Ga. - Sophomore guard Lyllique Roman (Poinciana, Fla.) scored a career-high 14 points and several other Hatters posted career-best rebounding totals, but it was not quite enough as Stetson (4-17, 4-8 Atlantic Sun) fell 65-51 at longtime league rival Mercer (11-9, 8-3 A-Sun) Saturday afternoon. Senior forward Ashli Jackson (Opelika, Ala.) finished just shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
A low-scoring start to the game swung briefly in Stetson's favor when junior guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) hit a three to put the Hatters up 8-7 with 12:57 left in the first half, but Stetson would not score again for the next six minutes and didn't catch up before the halftime buzzer sounded. Mercer led 27-21 at intermission.
The Hatters charged out of the locker room on a 13-2 run, taking a 34-29 lead with 16:29 remaining and forcing the Bears to call a timeout to regroup. Roman, Jackson and Brown drained back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to spark that run. Mercer took control from there, however, scoring the game's next nine points and taking the lead for good. After a basket by freshman forward Janelle Mills (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) with 9:28 left, Stetson only scored one field goal the rest of the game, that coming on freshman guard Ashley Dennis's (Bexley, Ohio) three-pointer in the final minute.
Roman grabbed four rebounds to go with her career scoring high while Jackson contributed three assists (tying her career high) and a steal. Junior center Natasha Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) pulled down a career-best 11 rebounds while freshman guard Simone Taylor (Delray Beach, Fla.) tied her top rebounding total with eight.
LaToya Jackson drained six three-pointers en route to a game-high 24 points to lead Mercer to the win. A-Sun Player of the Year candidate Courtney Ford put up another impressive stat line with 16 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.
Stetson returns to the court Monday at A-Sun foe Kennesaw State. Tip-off is set for 5:15 pm and can be seen on A-Sun.TV.
