The women’s basketball team played last Thursday and Saturday inside Hawkins Arena. The Bears started the week hoping to end a two-game losing streak, but they couldn't get it done in either game of their home stand. Both losses were conference contests, putting their record at 6-14 on the season, including a 1-4 record against Southern Conference opponents. Mercer is tied for last in the conference, next to Samford University, whom the Bears beat two weeks ago, and Western Carolina University.
The visiting Wofford Terriers beat the Bears, 61-51, despite Nahawa Diarra's ‘25 team-leading 17 points. Diarra also recorded three rebounds and an assist. Forward Ariana Bennett ‘26 added eight points and nine boards, and forward Ashlee Locke ‘25 knocked in eight points, four rebounds and three assists of her own.
Mercer started off the first quarter strong, knocking in three of four three-point attempts as they led the Terriers at the first break. After that, however, the efficient shooting fell off and both teams could not get much going before halftime. The third quarter was not kind to Mercer as the Bears shot 1-for-11 from the field, scoring just five points as Wofford pulled ahead and stayed ahead of the home team until the final buzzer sounded.
The Bears were outperformed in field goal and free throw percentages, and they were out-rebounded by 17 boards.
Later in the week, Mercer faced off against Furman University in a 57-47 loss. The team's leading scorer this season, Bennett ‘26, scored 21 points for the Bears, along with seven rebounds and a season-high four steals. Diarra scored 11 points and came away with three rebounds. Guard Talia Harris ‘28 had five rebounds while scoring eight points during the game. Harris, who started the season on the bench most games, has earned increasing minutes this season as her production increases. Chelsy Bautista '26 added a team-leading eight rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
The defense forced Furman into committing 13 turnovers and added seven steals of its own while holding the conference's third-ranked offense to just 57 points. The Paladins are averaging nearly 70 points per contest this season, and this was just their fourth game this season scoring 57 points or less.
The Bears will be back in action on the road this Thursday to take on the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Mercer will look to break the Spartans' 9-0 home winning streak.
