Mercer to Face Chattanooga on Saturday

Saturday, February 23

Chattanooga, Tenn.

2 P.M.

Mercer University

Chattanooga

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

2/22/2019 2:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Watch Live Stats

Bears can clinch outright SoCon regular season title with a win

By: Mary Bess Skinner

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Mercer will face Chattanooga on the road in a Southern Conference contest at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 in McKenzie Arena.

The Bears (19-7, 11-0 SoCon) can clinch the outright SoCon regular season title with a win on Saturday after earning at least a share of the title with their overtime win at ETSU on Thursday. Mercer has won 31 consecutive SoCon regular season games. Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN3.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 23 | 2 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (19-7, 11-0 SoCon) at Chattanooga (12-14, 7-4 SoCon)
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn. | McKenzie Arena
Live Stats: GoMocs.com
TV: ESPN3
Twitter Updates: @MercerWBB

SERIES HISTORY
The Bears have had recent fortune against Chattanooga, despite trailing 16-5 in their all-time series. Mercer holds a three-game win streak against the Mocs, claiming both matchups last season and a 65-58 home win in January.

SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA
Chattanooga is 12-14 overall and 7-4 in SoCon play, good for third in the conference standings heading into Saturday's game. The Mocs are 8-5 at home this season. After a strong start to its conference slate, Chattanooga suffered a three- game skid to ETSU, Furman and Wofford before defeating Samford at home on Thursday.

TITLE HUNTING
Mercer clinched a share of its fourth consecutive Southern Conference regular season title with an overtime win at ETSU on Thursday. The Bears remained undefeated in SoCon play with their 11th conference win. Mercer can also clinch the outright regular season title with a win at Chattanooga on Saturday.
Mercer has dominated the SoCon during its four years of SoCon regular season titles. The Bears are 49-4 in SoCon play since the start of the 2015- 16 season. Mercer's senior class – KeKe Calloway, Rachel Selph, Amanda Thompson, Ally Welch and Linnea Rosendal – have been members of all four title teams.

TITUS HITTING HER STRIDE
Sophomore Shannon Titus has emerged as a key scoring threat for the Bears since the start of SoCon play. Titus is shooting 52.4 percent from the field and is averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game in league play, highlighted by 10 double-figure scoring performances. Titus had a career night on Thursday at ETSU as she dropped a career-high 27 points to help the Bears clinch a share of the SoCon title. Titus scored all eight of Mercer's points in the overtime period against the Bucs.

PROTECTING THE ROCK
One of Mercer's keys to success this season has been protecting the basketball. The Bears entered this week's slate of games ranked seventh nationally in turnovers per game as they give up the ball just 11.6 times on average with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.3, which leads the SoCon.

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.