ASHEVILLE, N.C. — It will be a Volunteer State battle for the Southern Conference women’s basketball tournament title.
East Tennessee State, in its first season back in the SoCon since 2005, broke open a close game midway through the first half and went on to a 66-56 win over Mercer in Friday’s second semifinal at the U.S. Cellular Center.
The Buccaneers (21-10) and Bears were locked in a back-and-forth game when ETSU went on a 17-3 run to take a 12-point lead with 2:16 remaining in the half. ETSU led 31-21 at the break, and Mercer could get no closer than seven in the second half.
Serena Clark, Destiny Mitchell and Tianna Tarter all had double-doubles in the win. Tarter had 15 points and 15 rebounds, Mitchell had 16 and 11, and Clark had 15 and 11.
“I think we just grinded it out,” ETSU coach Brittney Ezell said. “It wasn’t pretty by any means with the exception of a stretch there in the first half where we got out in transition. … At about the 14-minute mark in the second half was when I knew it was starting to kick in for our kids.
“I thought we rebounded the ball very well, even from the rebound position. … To have three kids with double-doubles, I just think that is a reflection of their effort.”
Mercer (18-14) was led by SoCon player of the year Precious Bridges with 24 points. Teammate and league freshman of the year Kahlia Lawrence had 10 points.
The Bucs now get a day to prepare for a third game this season against UTC for the championship, an opportunity they are happy to have in their first season back in the SoCon.
“Chattanooga is a very disciplined team, a very tough team,” Clark said. “They haven’t lost a conference game all season, and we have been starting slow these past few games. But we have to start from the beginning and finish the game and play all 40 minutes on Sunday.
“It will be a very good game.”
MOCS FANS MASSING
After a solid showing for Thursday’s opening-round game, there were more UTC fans for the semifinal round, and even more Mocs faithful are expected this weekend as the wrestling tournament takes place today and the men’s basketball team begins play tonight.
UTC chancellor Steve Angle was among the crowd cheering on the Mocs, and he was thrilled to see so many in blue and gold making the trip to Asheville.
“To see so many people from Chattanooga here and fans and alumni, wow,” he said. “We are really lucky, and it is so exciting. We have great chances in both men and women, and the women are just awesome.”
Angle said that having the UTC women achieving national prominence with a No. 17 ranking is good for the school and the Chattanooga community as a whole.
“It’s great visibility (for UTC). And with the class of Jim Foster, who is just an incredible coach,” Angle said, “when you look at how he’s inspired this team. And they are really playing like a team. It’s fun for everybody.”
MERCER MAKES NOISE
While Mercer’s women’s team fell short against ETSU on Friday, the Bears have proven to be a great new addition to the SoCon.
The Bears finished third in the regular season in men’s and women’s basketball, won men’s soccer and were second in women’s soccer, and they were predicted to finish second in softball in voting by league coaches.
In addition, Mercer fans have shown enthusiasm at all their home games and have shown the ability to bring a good number of fans to opposing schools, which helps build new rivalries and improve the game experience for all fans and players.
“They’ve been a tremendous addition,” SoCon commissioner John Iamarino said Thursday. “When we began looking at prospective members, I had no idea of the quality of their facilities, the tradition that they’ve built the past few years and the fact that they have a huge fan base.
“I think you’re going to great things out of them in football … and in basketball.”
Contact Jim Tanner at jtanner@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6478. Follow him at twitter.com/JFTanner.