Mercer University
East Tennessee State
Bears Ready For SoCon Tournament Against ETSU
3/6/2024 5:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tip off is scheduled for 5:45 p.m.
GAME INFO
SoCon Tournament Quarterfinals
No. 4 Mercer (14-16, 8-6 SoCon) vs No. 5 ETSU (18-11, 7-7Â SoCon)
Thursday, March 7, 2024 | 5:45 p.m. ET
Asheville, N.C. | Harrah's Cherokee Center
TV:Â ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's game between Mercer and ETSU will be the 49th all-time meeting between the two programs. Mercer leads the series 26-22. The two teams split their regular season meetings this season, with each team winning on its home floor.
SCOUTING ETSU
ETSU enters the SoCon tournament with a record of 18-11. The Buccaneers went 7-7 in conference play.
ETSU is led by second year head coach Brenda Mock Brown. The Bucs were picked as the preseason favorites to win the SoCon by the coaches and picked second by the media, but finished in fifth in the final SoCon standings.
ETSU enters the tournament having lost its last two conference games to Wofford and Furman. The Bucs were one of the best defensive teams in the SoCon throughout the regular season. ETSU finished with the number two scoring defense in conference play as they allowed just 57.4 points per game. ETSU's conference opponents shot just 37.7 percent against the Bucs, the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the league. ETSU ranked in the middle of the pack in conference play in rebounding with a -0.4 rebounding margin.
The Bucs have been led by All-SoCon First Team selection Nevaeh Brown who is averaging a team best 13.7 points per game. Brown is the only Buccaneer averaging double figures in scoring.
LAST TIME OUT
Behind outstanding performances from its forwards in Stacie Jones and Mackenzie Johnson, Mercer defeated the Samford Bulldogs 76-69 on Diploma Day inside Hawkins Arena Saturday.
Jones and Johnson were dominant from opening tip. Jones, had a career high 30 points to go with seven rebounds, while Johnson tacked on a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Summah Evans also added eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Jones was named SoCon Player of the Week for her performance against Samford. The Bears enter the tournament on a three-game winning streak.
NEED TOÂ KNOW
Mercer and ETSU have not played each other in the SoCon Tournament since playing in the 2018 championship game, which Mercer won 68-53.
FOLLOW THE BEARSÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_WBB (Twitter),  /MercerWBB (Facebook) and @Mercer_wbb (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
