CLINTON, S.C. – A fast start by three-time defending Big South conference champion Mercer on Wednesday afternoon was too much for the Presbyterian College lacrosse team to overcome, ending with a 21-4 defeat at Bailey Memorial Stadium.

Scoring eight first-period goals en route to their 28^th consecutive Big South win (spanning all the way back to 2022), Mercer's victory sends the Blue Hose to a record of 4-9. Head coach Eric Clakeley's crew came into the day tied for 5^th in the division standings.

The garnet and blue found four connections by four different players (Kenzie Partsch, Madeleine Lowrance, Emily Currie, and Emma Claire Mills), although faced with a 14-1 deficit after two quarters.

PC remains on their home base this weekend with another conference clash, welcoming Gardner-Webb for a 1:00 PM start.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- A 32-13 advantage in total shots (along with 29 on-goal attempts) was the largest factor as the Bears separated themselves early, winning 19 draws and forcing 17 Presby turnovers.

- Ten different Mercer players scored at least once as they kept their undefeated Big South record intact, going on an 11-0 run that spanned all of the 2^nd period and bled into the second half.

- Following an early goal by Mills (her 12^th of the season), the visitors kept Presbyterian off the board for the next 28 minutes of game-time. It was a 7-3 difference in the last 30 minutes, as the Kayleigh Aitken/Morgan Thompson/Noami Lauderbaugh trio split their time at the keepers' position (all playing at least one quarter).

- Preseason all-league selection Avery West accumulated four ground balls and was the cause of three Mercer takeaways. PC had just one free-position attempt in the contest, which was Mills' make in the opening moments.


 
UP NEXT
 
- Both teams are looking to rebound from a midweek loss in Presby's next encounter, as Gardner-Webb sits at 1-11 following a Wednesday loss against High Point.

- G-W's lone win of the year came over a league opponent (besting Longwood by two in Boiling Springs). They were handily defeated by coach Clakeley's club last spring, a 12-4 tally in North Carolina.