Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Alysha Clark posted her league-leading 17th double-double of the season as top-seeded Belmont advanced to the A-Sun Championship semifinals with a 64-52 win over No. 8 Mercer at the Dothan Civic Center.
Belmont opened the game on an 8-0 run and looked about ready to put it into cruise control before Mercer came roaring back. The Bears scored seven straight points capped by a Megan Lewis three-pointer eight minutes into the contest. The top seed regained control with a quick 10-0 spurt highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Destri Bockey and Brittany Myers that left Belmont with an 11-point advantage they would continue to enjoy at halftime.
The Bruins scored the first seven points out of the locker room to double up the Bears with 17:54 left in the game. Mercer’s defense sparked a rally for the Bears as they held Belmont scoreless for over five minutes. The lead was cut to 36-30 following Sally Skeldon’s three-pointer at the 13:06 mark. The game of runs continued however as Belmont outscored Mercer 13-2, pushing the lead out to 17 points after an Alysha Clark transition basket.
Belmont advances to face the winner of No. 4 Gardner-Webb versus No. 5 Campbell.
