Sports Writer

Mercer guard Jo Shaw hit a critical 3-pointer in the last minute of the game to help the Lady Bears hand the TSU Lady Trojans their fourth straight loss, 61-56.

In what was a close game all night long, Lady Trojan senior Keisha Ellis hit both free throws in a one and one situation to help pull Troy State to within one, 55-54, before Shaw hit her 3-point shot with 1:10 left in regulation. Mercer’s four point advantage proved to be too much for the Lady Trojans to overcome.

With the win, Mercer improves to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in the TAAC. Troy State falls to 4-9 and 1-4.

The loss overshadowed a great performance by Ellis, who finished the game with 18 points in just her second game back from an injury suffered earlier in the season. Point guard Sharin Milner had 12 to go along with her five assists and five steals. Abby Boone had 11 points on the night.

The Lady Bears were up by just two at the half,28-26, before freshman Chaquita Alexander came off of the Lady Trojan bench to score seven quick points and give Troy State a one point lead just 1:30 into the second period. The Troy State lead would eventually grow to five points, before Mercer came back to take the lead for good on a basket by Margaret Cullen.

The Lady Bears were led by freshman April Dyer with 18 points and Cullen, who finished with 10.