Mercer set to take on UConn in first round of NCAA tournament. Here is how to watch
The Mercer Bears are set to take on the University of Connecticut Huskies in the first round of the Women’s NCAA tournament. The Bears are the No. 15 seed and are making their fourth appearance in five years.
Saturday’s showdown will be the first-ever meeting between the Bears and Huskies, and the first game for Mercer against a current Big East school since the 2007-08 season
Here is a look at a few things to know heading into Mercer’s matchup with one of the nation’s powerhouses Saturday.
When, where and what’s next?
The game will tip-off at 1 p.m. in Storrs, Connecticut on Saturday. The winner of the game will advance to take the winner of the UCF and Florida game.
How to watch?
Mercer vs UConn will be broadcast on ABC. It will also be available on the WatchESPN app. Fans can listen live using the Sports Mic Radio app as the Voice of the Bears, Rick Cameron, will be on the call for the game.
How Mercer got here
The Bears are back in the NCAA tournament after winning back-to-back Southern Conference tournaments.
Mercer finished the season 23-6, including a sweep of the SoCon tournament where it outscored its three opponents by a combined 88 points. The Bears capped the run with a win over Furman in the final by a score of 73-54.
This season Mercer took on a pair of NCAA tournament participants: UCF and Georgia. The Bears lost both of those games but were within 15 points in each game.
How UConn got here
The Huskies have won an NCAA record 11 national championships. But this season, UConn has struggled with injuries to a few of their key players, resulting in a No. 2 seed.
UConn has won 10 straight games, including a sweep of the Big East tournament. They outscored each opponent by more than 20 points, including a 70-40 win over Villanova in the title game.
Mercer player to watch
Senior guard Amoria Neal-Tysor has been the go-to scorer for the Bears, averaging 17 points per game. If the Bears are going to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament, they’ll need a big performance from Neal-Tysor.
In the SoCon tournament, she scored at will, dropping more than 20 in each game including a career-high 34 in the opener against Western Carolina.
UConn player to watch
Sophomore guard Paige Bueckers is arguably the best player in the country when she is healthy. In December, she suffered an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear in her knee which required surgery.
She has played in just 11 games this season but returned in St. John’s game just before the end of the regular season. Throughout the Big East tournament, her minutes began to creep up.
UConn will likely need Bueckers to play big minutes in the NCAA tournament to be a factor but if she is healthy and back to her old self, she could lead the Huskies to a national title.
Mercer’s Shannon Titus was selected as the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, look for her to neutralize one of UConn’s top scorers, which could force Bueckers to carry more of a scoring load.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 1:46 PM.