Mercer's KeKe Calloway carries the SoCon Basketball Tournament trophy off the team bus as she and the rest of the Bears arrive back on Mercer's campus Sunday night. Winning the conference title means the Bears advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Mercer's KeKe Calloway carries the SoCon Basketball Tournament trophy off the team bus as she and the rest of the Bears arrive back on Mercer's campus Sunday night. Winning the conference title means the Bears advance to the NCAA Tournament. / GPB

The Mercer University Women’s Basketball team has secured a trip to the NCAA tournament after winning their second straight conference title over the weekend. The milestone came after a close win. 

 

 Mercer Bears Earn Bid To NCAA Tournament, Again

Fans met the Bears at the team bus when they returned to campus Sunday night. Tournament MVP KeKe Calloway carried the Southern Conference tournament trophy into the Bears home arena. The honor fell to her after she  scored a career high 30 points in Mercer’s 66 to 63 squeaker of a win over Furman University. 

 

Later, senior forward Ally Welch joked with fans about the close game before thanking them. 

 

“It was…a lot of excitement,” Welch said to laughter. “But throughout the stress you all kept the energy we needed and we’d like to just say thank you to all of you." 

 

The Bears will wait until 7pm next Monday when the NCAA tournament brackets are revealed to find out who they play next.  

  

 

Tags: women's sports  NCAA Championship  Basketball  Augusta  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah