About the Game ...

ETSU will also be looking to avenge its earlier loss to Mercer, which topped the Lady Bucs, 61-57, in Macon, Ga., on Jan. 28.  The Lady Bucs are one of the five teams to have already claimed one of the A-Sun's eight tournament spots and aiming to stay near the top of the heap, while the Bears are still clawing for one of the remaining spots, currently standing at 8-8 in conference play.

Scouting the Bears ...

Mercer closed out January with a big conference win over ETSU, which moved the club to 7-3 in the A-Sun.  February hasn't been as kind, however, as the Bears have dropped five of their last six contests.  Most recently, the Bears tumbled in their latest home stand, losing to both Campbell and Gardner-Webb.  The Bears' lone A-Sun win since Jan. 28, was a 60-55 win over Stetson.  Sarah Russell leads Mercer in scoring with 11.6 ppg.  Russell totaled 11 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting against ETSU.  Russell is also the Bears' top rebounder, corralling 6.6 rpg.  Another thorn in the Lady Bucs' side in the first meeting was Erin Keller, who nailed a career-high four three-pointers for a team-high 12 points.  Keller currently averages 6.7 ppg.  Guard Sally Skeldon also gave the Lady Buc backcourt fits in Macon, tallying five steals, along with eight assists.  One of the best passers in the league, Skeldon totaled 10 assists in the Bears' loss to Gardner-Webb.      

The Series ...

Mercer picked up the 61-57 win in this season's first meeting to take the 3-2 advantage in the all-time series.  The Bears battled back from a late second-half deficit, sinking three clutch free throws in the game's final 47 seconds, to top the Lady Bucs on Jan. 28,  in University Center. The loss came despite hot shooting from Michele DeVault and B.J. Banjo, who tallied 21 and 17 points, respectively, both nailing five three pointers. Banjo also posted her second double double of the season, adding a game-high 11 rebounds.