A hot handed Mercer team defeated High Point University women's basketball team, 79-69, on Saturday afternoon at the University Center in Macon, Ga. The Bears shot 50-percent from the field, including 9-of-18 from behind the arc.

Leading the Panthers (1-4) was sophomore Frances Fields who matched a career-high with 15 points. Shamia Brown added 12 points while Jurica Hargraves posted 10. Mackenzie Maier pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

For the Bears (3-2) LaToya Jackson led a quartet of players in double figures with 19 points. Dominique Chism posted 17 points while Courtney Ford added 16. Kourtney Carter rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points.

Mercer came out strong to open the game, jumping out to a quick 12 point lead at the 16:01 mark. The Bears maintained a lead throughout the half and was up by 11 with two minutes to go, but High Point went on a 9-2 run which was bookended by baskets from Fields who hit a three to start the run and stole the ball and nailed a layup with five seconds before the break. The Panthers cut the lead down to four (39-35) going into the intermission.

The Bears responded to open the second half with an 11-0 run, sparked by back-to-back three pointers from Jackson. High Point followed up with three straight baskets to cut the lead down to 10, but Mercer maintained the double-digit lead. Mercer took its largest lead of the contest, up 16 with 3:22 left to play, but High Point went on an 11-1 run to cut the lead down to eight with 1:30 to go. The Panthers were again within eight with under a minute left in the contest, but were unable to overcome.

"We spotted a very good basketball team 12 points out of the gate," said HPU head coach Tooey Loy. "We played very good basketball in spots, but we have to learn to put a complete game on the floor for 40 minutes. When we learn to do this we will have a very good basketball team."

High Point dominated on the boards, pulling down 41 to 30 by the Bears.

The Panthers will return to the Millis Center for their next contest and will face George Mason on Monday, Dec. 1. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m. and is the first game in a doubleheader with the men's team.