MACON, Ga. (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears used a dominant defensive performance to secure a 75-59 victory over the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Hawkins Arena.

In front of an announced crowd of 518, the Bears improved to 4-3 on the season, while the Lady Rattlers remained winless, falling to 0-6.

The game was ultimately decided by Mercer’s ability to capitalize on Florida A&M’s mistakes. The Bears scored 28 points off 24 Lady Rattlers turnovers, while Florida A&M managed just 6 points off Mercer’s 13 giveaways. Mercer’s defense was relentless, registering 14 steals compared to just 3 for the visitors. The Bears also shared the ball effectively, dishing out 14 assists to Florida A&M’s 3.

Mercer established control early, taking a 15-11 lead after a first quarter characterized by sloppy play from both sides. The Bears extended their advantage to 33-25 by halftime, and a 19-point third quarter pushed their lead to 52-36 heading into the final period. Florida A&M mounted its most productive offensive stretch in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 points, but Mercer matched that output to maintain its comfortable lead and close out the game.

Shaniyah McCarthy led all scorers for Florida A&M, finishing with 20 points in 38 minutes of action. Tahnyjia Purifoy added 14 points for the Lady Rattlers. Defensively, Breazia Robinson was a force in the paint for Florida A&M, recording 7 blocked shots to go along with 8 points.

Mercer’s offense was a balanced effort, with four players scoring in double figures. Talia Kemp filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 5 assists and a block. Nahawa Diarra and Ariana Bennett each contributed 13 points, while Micah O’Dell added 12. Abigail Holtman chipped in 11 points for the Bears.

From the field, Mercer shot 28 of 71, while Florida A&M made 21 of 57 attempts. The Lady Rattlers struggled immensely from beyond the arc, connecting on just 1 of 10 three-point attempts. Mercer shot 5 of 18 from deep. Both teams found success at the free-throw line, with Florida A&M making 16 of 21 and Mercer converting 14 of 20.

The Bears also held a slight edge in offensive rebounding, 16 to 14, leading to a 38-32 advantage in points in the paint.

The game was the first of a two-game road swing through Georgia for Florida A&M, which will next face South Alabama on Sunday. Mercer continues its homestand, preparing to host Charleston Southern on Friday.