Georgia Takes Down Mercer, 77-57

MACON, Ga. – A season-high shooting effort fueled a 77-57 victory for the University of Georgia women’s basketball team over the Mercer Bears Thursday evening at Hawkins Arena.

Javyn Nicholson tallied her fourth career 20-point game to lead the Georgia (3-1) offensive effort. Zoesha Smith sank a season-high 18 points, marking the third double figure scoring performance in the last four games. Destiny Thomas paced the Lady Bulldogs in the paint, grabbing a season-high 11 boards for the 32nd double digit rebound game of her career. De’Mauri Flournoy contributed 11 points of her own and dished out a team-leading five assists.

Georgia grabbed an early 7-3 lead to open the first frame. Mercer (1-3) responded with a pair of triples before the Lady Bulldogs used an uncontested eight points to boost their lead by nine, 15-6. Four points from the Bears closed the first quarter as Georgia carried a 17-11 lead into the second quarter.

Both teams used short scoring runs in the second period as the Lady Bulldogs continued to lead. A five-point run was fueled by three points from Chloe Chapman. Mercer concluded the first half with a pair of 3-pointers as Georgia took a 38-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Eight points from Nicholson in the third quarter contributed to the Lady Bulldogs’ lead. Georgia posted a 12-3 run late in the quarter. The Bears answered with five points before Nicholson grabbed a layup to give Georgia a 56-43 lead to start the fourth.

Back-to-back baskets by Nicholson sparked a 7-0 scoring run to open the final frame. A 10-2 run highlighted by Flournoy’s third triple of the evening gave Georgia its final, 77-57, boost.

The Lady Bulldogs will return to action in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in Nassau, Bahamas. Georgia will face Columbia at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20 and Purdue at 4 p.m. on Nov. 22.