STATESBORO, Ga. (11-24-23) - First time since the 2001-02 season Detroit Mercy has started 4-2 as the Titans held off South Carolina Update, 71-64, to kick off play at the GATA Turkey Throwdown on Friday afternoon at Hanner Fieldhouse. Junior
Latifa Amzil's play in the first half provided the second quarter spark the Titans needed as she was perfect scoring 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free throw line.
In her first start of the season, sophomore
Myonna Hooper added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while senior
Irene Murua added eight points going 4-of-9 from the field with a team-high 10 rebounds.
Graduate student
Imani McNeal chipped in with seven points with five boards and five assists. Junior
Emma Trawally Porta also scored seven points going 3-for-4 from the free throw line and 2-for-3 from the floor. Sophomore
Amaya Burch grabbed eight boards with five points.
After falling behind 20-11 at the end of the first quarter, the Titans got things going opening the second quarter on a 13-4 run to draw even at 24-24 by the 6:05 media timeout. Amzil made a 3-pointer and a free throw to tie the game again at 30-30. McNeal connected on a layup giving UDM its first lead at 32-30 since early on at 3-2 in the first quarter. Freshman
Paris Gilmore hit a jumper followed by a bucket from Senior
Jada Moorehead giving the Titans a 36-32 lead at the half.
UDM held a slim 15-13 scoring advantage in the third to take a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, 51-45.
USC Upstate (2-5) opened the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 53-53 before Hooper connected on a crucial 3-pointer followed by a lay-up to pull the Titans back ahead by three points, 58-53, with 5:04 to go. The Spartans clawed back once again and took the lead at 59-58 with a pair of free throws.
However, back-to-back buckets off a McNeal 3-pointer and Hooper layup moved UDM back up by three points, 63-60, at the 3-minute mark. Trawally-Porta then added a lay-up followed by a pair of Burch free throws capped off a 9-0 run for a 67-60 lead with 19 ticks left. USC Upstate added a pair of free throws just three seconds later but Trawally Porta and Hooper added a pair of free throws each to seal the 71-64 win.
Detroit Mercy concludes GATA Turkey Throwdown action against host Georiga Southern on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4:30 p.m.
