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

Mercer improved to 4-3 on the season, while Florida A&M remained winless at 0-6.

The Bears seized control of the game by capitalizing on a staggering disparity in takeaways. Mercer’s defense forced 24 Florida A&M turnovers, converting them into 28 points. The Bears also recorded 14 steals and 14 assists, showcasing a disruptive and cohesive defensive effort. In contrast, the Lady Rattlers managed just three assists and three steals against 13 turnovers of their own.

While the final margin was 16 points, the game was largely defined by Mercer’s ability to maintain a steady lead after building it in the first half. The Bears led 15-11 after the first quarter and extended their advantage to 33-25 by halftime. They outscored the Lady Rattlers 19-11 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach, taking a 52-36 lead into the final period.

Florida A&M found some offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 points, but Mercer matched that output to prevent any serious comeback attempt.

Offensive efficiency was a key differentiator. Mercer scored 75 points on 78 possessions for an offensive rating of 96.8. Florida A&M, struggling with ball security and shooting, managed just 59 points on 77 possessions for an offensive rating of 76.6.

Shaniyah McCarthy led all scorers with 20 points for Florida A&M. Tahnyjia Purifoy added 14 points for the Lady Rattlers. Breazia Robinson was a force defensively for Florida A&M, blocking seven shots.

Mercer’s victory was a product of a balanced offensive approach. Five players scored in double figures: Nahawa Diarra and Ariana Bennett each had 13 points, while Micah O’Dell and Talia Kemp added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Abigail Holtman chipped in 11 points. Kemp also distributed a team-high five assists.

From the field, Mercer shot 28 for 71, compared to Florida A&M’s 21 for 57. The Lady Rattlers were particularly cold from beyond the arc, making just 1 of 10 three-point attempts. Mercer hit 5 of 18 from long range.

The announced attendance at Hawkins Arena was 518.

Mercer next travels to face Charleston Southern on Friday. Florida A&M will look for its first win on the road at South Alabama on Sunday.