By: by Jason Hanes
MACON, Ga. - Sametria Gideon had 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, but a rally from a 20-point deficit in the second half fell by the wayside in overtime as the Kennesaw State women's basketball team fell, 82-76, to Mercer at the University Center in Atlantic Sun Conference action.
The Lady Owls (7-15, 4-10) trailed, 41-24, at the half and soon trailed by 20 after the start of the second half after a Mercer 3-pointer. Still, KSU kept chipping away at the Mercer lead. Christie Leverette helped keep the Lady Owls in the contest by scoring nine of her career-best 15 points in the early stages of the second half, but Mercer led, 60-47, with just over seven minutes to go in the contest.
With hope fading, the Lady Owls went on a massive run to take the lead. Ashley Holliday connected for eight points over the next three-plus minutes, as KSU went on a 13-0 run between stoppages for media timeouts. Coming out of the final media timeout with under four minutes to go, Holliday hit again from long range to give the Lady Owls their first lead of the contest, 63-60.
The lead would sqell to five before Mercer (2-21, 2-12) finally ended the run for KSU at 18-0. The Bears would come back to eventually tie the game, 67-67, setting the stage for a frantic finish in regulation. With 24 seconds left, Gideon was fouled makign a lay-up, giving the sophomore the opportunity for a 3-point play. The free throw danced off the iron, but Gideon grabbed her own rebound. Twice the sophomore laid the ball up, but the ball devilishly bounced off the iron and wouldn't fall. Mercer would grab the rebound and move down floor witha chance to win.
KSU's defense played solidly in the beginning of Mercer's final possession of regulation, as Brittneee Hazel couldn't connect on a lay-up over the defense ov Christine Wylie. A mad scramble for the ball ensued, and the ball eventually trickled out of bounds before staying with the Bears. After a pair of timeouts, Mercer got the ball in and Hazel connected on a jumper with 3.8 seconds to go to knot the score, 69-69. Smith sprinted down the court for the Lady Owls, but her running 3-point effort at the buzzer fell short to send the game into overtime.
KSU took the lead in the overtime session as Holliday connected from beyond the arc for the sixth time in the contest. A pair of free throws by Lisa Capellan gave KSU the lead by four, 74-70, but the lead would be short lived. Mercer would storm back on the strength of a, 12-0, run to swipe the game back from the Lady Owls.
Holliday led all Lady Owls in scoring with 21 points, 14 of which came after halftime. Gideon scored 16 of her points in the second half, while Leverette was the third Lady Owl in double-figures in scoring.
Mercer was led in scoring by Briana Williams, who notched 23, including seven in the overtime period. Shermesia Smith had a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds while Alex Phillips scored 20 points. Brittnee Hazel was the fourth Mercer player in double-figures, hitting for 15 points.
The Lady Owls will return home to face Stetson this Saturday in A-Sun action. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center.
