Georgia Southern University
0-2,0-0Sun Belt
Mercer
2-0,0-0SoCon
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ga. Southern | 19 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 61 |
| Mercer | 21 | 8 | 23 | 17 | 69 |
11/5/2026 9:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bears use a 31-5 edge in free throws to hand Eagles second loss of the season
MACON, Ga. - Mercer women's basketball used a commanding advantage at the free throw line to hand Georgia Southern a 69-61 loss on Thursday evening at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Ga.
The Bears improved to 2-0 on the season with the win, while Georgia Southern fell to 0-2 in the first meeting between the two teams in Macon since 2019.
Mercer hit 10-of-11 free throws in the first period alone to grab a 21-19 lead after the first quarter. Georgia Southern rallied back in the second quarter, forcing 11 turnovers in the frame to take a 30-29 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, a Jamiria Jones free throw gave the Eagles a 45-44 lead with 1:24 left in the period, but Mercer ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 52-45 lead into the fourth.
The Eagles opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 52-all, but Mercer answered with a 6-0 run over the next minute and a half to take the lead for good.
Mercer finished the night 31-of-41 from the free throw line, the first time an Eagle opponent has made 30 or more free throws in a game and shot 40 or more free throws in a game since 2023.
Kayla Cleaveland's 18 points led the Eagles offensively on the night, while Jamiira Jones was the only other Eagle in double figures with 14 points. Mercer placed four players in double figures, led by Micah O'Dell's 15 points.
Eagle of the Game
Jones finished the night with a stat-sheet stuffer of seven steals, five assists and four rebounds to go with her 14 points. The seven steals are the most for a Georgia Southern player since Terren Ward had seven steals against Texas State on January 13, 2022.Â
Stat of the Game
The Bears enjoyed a 31-5 edge in free throws made between the two teams.
Quotables
Head coach Heather Macy on the game tonight against the Bears
"The effort was there tonight but you can tell that our team needs to keep putting minutes on the floor together to get where we need to be. With the steals we were able to get, you could see glimpses of what this team can be defensively, but we're just not quite there yet."
Next Up
Georgia Southern will open up its home slate on Monday, November 9, hosting Savannah State in a 6 p.m. contest at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.Â
