NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears used a dominant first quarter and a resilient finish to secure a 64-55 victory over the Detroit Titans in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at the Human Performance Center.

Mercer, which improved to 8-5, established control early, racing to a 23-14 lead after the opening period. The Bears’ defense was the catalyst, forcing seven Detroit turnovers in the first quarter alone and converting them into easy scoring opportunities. That set the tone for a game where Mercer’s pressure would be a constant theme, as they finished with 12 steals and scored 27 points off 21 Detroit turnovers.

The Titans, who fell to 3-7, struggled to find consistent offense against Mercer’s aggressive schemes. Despite shooting a slightly better percentage from the field at 40.4% compared to Mercer’s 34.4%, Detroit’s possessions were often cut short by mistakes. Mercer’s ability to generate extra chances was also pivotal; the Bears grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, leading to a 15-5 advantage in second-chance points.

After building the early lead, Mercer saw its advantage shrink in the third quarter. Detroit’s defense tightened, holding the Bears to just nine points in the period. A three-pointer by Detroit’s Maya Anderson with 10 seconds left in the third capped a 14-9 quarter for the Titans and cut Mercer’s lead to 47-41 heading into the final frame.

The most critical sequence of the game came early in the fourth quarter when Detroit threatened to complete its comeback. The Titans closed to within four points on multiple occasions, the last at 48-44 following a free throw by Addisen Mastriano with 7:09 remaining. With momentum shifting, Mercer needed a response.

The Bears found it through their veterans. Guard Talia Kemp, who led all scorers with 16 points, drove for a layup to push the lead back to six. On the ensuing Detroit possession, Abigail Holtman blocked a Myonna Hooper layup attempt, a play that ignited a decisive Mercer run. Stephanie Utomi secured the defensive rebound, and on the other end, Holtman found Kemp for another driving layup, extending the lead to 52-44 with 5:02 to play.

Detroit never recovered from that pivotal defensive stop and quick-score combination. Mercer’s defense locked down, and the Bears sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 9 of 12 attempts in the fourth quarter. Nahawa Diarra, who contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, was instrumental in the closing minutes, hitting key free throws to keep Detroit at bay.

For Mercer, the balanced effort was key. Beyond Kemp and Diarra, Abigail Holtman of Cincinnati added 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks, while Stephanie Utomi of Detroit, Michigan, chipped in eight points, six rebounds and two blocks. Elena Cabello of Malaga, Spain, added nine points.

Detroit was led by a double-double from Jasmine Edwards, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Aaliyah McQueen also scored 13 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists. Myonna Hooper added 11 points for the Titans.

The game, part of a multi-team event, was played in front of an announced crowd of 691. Mercer will look to continue its momentum against Delaware State on Sunday, also in New Orleans. Detroit will face Tulane on Sunday in its next contest.