GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women's basketball team (8-8) returned to the hardwood after a week's rest Thursday night to open Southern Conference play against league leader Mercer (11-5). After finding themselves trailing by double figures early and their three-game win streak on the line, the Spartans rallied to force overtime against the Bears. Mercer went on to win 86-78 in overtime backed by 36 points from Kahlia Lawrence.

Southern Conference Player of the Week Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) led UNCG with 26 points while three other Spartans scored in double figures.

UNCG took its only lead of the first half at 6:54 in the first with a jumper by India Timpton (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park). Mercer led by as many as 11, 20-9, with 1:50 to play in the frame and led 22-13 at the end of the first. A pivotal jumper by Bailey Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) made it a six-point game, 26-20, at 6:48 in the second and UNCG went on a 7-4 run to make it 30-27 and a one-possession game with 2:21 until the break. KeKe Calloway responded with a trey for the Bears putting them up six with just under two minutes to play. The Spartans closed out the half on a 6-0 run to tie the game 33-all at halftime.

Despite a slow start shooting just 18.9 percent through the first seven minutes of play, the Spartans improved to shoot 34.4 percent from the field in the first half. Mason led all scorers with 13 pints while Jade Scaife (Fort Washington, Md./Archbishop Spalding) had an impressive seven rebounds. UNCG won the battle on the boards out-rebounding Mercer 23-19 while each team had 10 turnovers. Mercer shot 40 percent from field goal range but just 12.5 percent from three-point range on one-of-eight shots.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle until a pair of free throws by Scaife at 2:51 when the Spartans took a 44-43 lead. UNCG closed out the half on a 10-4 run to lead 54-47 heading into the fourth quarter. Lucy Mason took a three-pointer with 0.03 seconds left on the clock where she was fouled on the shot. The senior guard stepped to the line and made all three free throws to cap off the Spartans run.

UNCG took its biggest lead of the game, by eight points, with 7:04 left in regulation. Mercer refused to back down and took back the lead with 1:49 to play on a jumper by Lawrence. Lawrence hit two free throws with 19 seconds left on the clock and UNCG had one last possession.

Head Coach Wendy Palmer called time out and drew up a quick play, advanced the ball to the front court and with three seconds left on the clock Mason took a trey. For the second time she was fouled and headed to the charity stripe. Mason sunk all three free throws to tie the game 70-all. Mercer would have possession after a quick time out and ball advance but a last second shot by Lawrence hit the rim and bounced into the arms of Scaife, sending the two SoCon foes to the league's first overtime game of the season.

The Spartans improved to shoot 37.5 percent from the field in the second half. Mason led her team with 11 points while Scaife added eight points and six rebounds. Lawrence paced all players with 19 points in the second half on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. The Bears shot 47.1 percent from the field in the half and 80 percent from the free throw line. UNCG was impressive at the charity stripe as well, connecting on 12-of-14 attempts for 85.7 percent.

In overtime, Mercer quickly jumped out to a 77-72 lead with 2:57 to go and never looked back. Two Mason free throws made it a five-point game at 2:01 but the Bears were able to hold off UNCG for an eight-point victory.

UNCG was outscored 16-8 in the overtime period as the Bear shot an impressive 80 percent from the field on four-of-five shots from the field. Fouls were all the difference in the game for UNCG as they sent Mercer to the free throw line ten times where they made six attempts. The Spartans connected on just two shots from the field in the final five minutes mimicking their opening minutes of regulation with an 18.2 percent field goal percentage.

The Spartans dynamic duo of juniors Timpton and Scaife both tallied double-doubles each having 11 points. Scaife tied her career-high 14 rebounds while Timpton grabbed 11. Mason accounted for nearly half of UNCG's free throws connecting on 13-of-14 attempts. Mercer's Sydni Means dished out a game-high 10 assists while Amanda Thompson had a game-high two blocks.

With the victory, Mercer improves to 4-0 all-time against UNCG.

The Spartans will look to get back on track Saturday, January 9, when they host Samford (9-7, 1-0 SoCon) at 2 p.m. inside Fleming Gymnasium. The Bulldogs are coming off a 59-42 win over Western Carolina (4-11, 0-1 SoCon) in their league opener.

-UNCG-