STATESBORO, Ga. – Precious Bridges tallied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Mercer used a big first half to push past Georgia Southern 84-61 in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Patrice Butler led Georgia Southern (2-5) with 16 points and six rebounds, and Anna Claire Knight posted 11 points and five rebounds. Angel McGowan scored nine, while Alexis Sams and Jakayvea Akins each netted eight.

Bridges was one of four Bears in double figures. Briana Williams scored 20, and Alicia Williams finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Kahlia Lawrence tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Briana Williams scored seven straight points in a 9-0 Bear run as Mercer (5-3) opened a 19-9 cushion midway through the first half. After a fast-break layup by Akins cut the deficit to eight points, Lawrence scored the last four points in a 12-2 Mercer run that stretched the margin to 42-24 at halftime. The Bears logged 19 offensive rebounds and scored 14 second-chance points in the stanza.

"I thought we did a pretty good job of defending their stuff in the first half, but we were unable to finish possessions with rebounds and that hurt us a lot," said Georgia Southern coach Chris Vozab. "The points they got from offensive rebounds let them get out to a lead and feeling good. We missed some good looks early, and then when they stretched the lead out, I thought we got tight a little bit."

The lead ballooned to 20 points early in the second half before the Eagles used a 6-2 spurt, capped by a Sams triple, to trim the margin to 50-37. A 3-point play by Butler and a jumper from McGowan brought the deficit to 12 points, but it was as close as the Eagles would get. Bridges scored five points in a 9-2 run that made the score 63-44 with 11:37 left.

Georgia Southern shot 40 percent for the game, but the Eagles were outrebounded 52-32, and Mercer shot 55 percent in the second half.

The Eagles have 14 days off for exams before traveling to the Gator Holiday Classic Dec. 21-22 in Gainesville, Fla. Georgia Southern will face Eastern Washington on the tournament's first day with tipoff set for noon.

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