Preview: Mercer Bears at Furman Paladins TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the Southern Conference standings will meet Saturday when the Furman Paladins host the Mercer Bears in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game. The matchup at Timmons Arena features teams with nearly identical records. Furman (16-11 overall) enters with a slight edge over Mercer (15-11). Both squads are looking to rebound from losses in their last outings on Feb. 19. Mercer fell 72-58 at Wofford, while Furman dropped a 68-59 decision to Samford at home. The Paladins won the season’s first meeting, defeating Mercer 60-49 on Jan. 22 in Macon, Georgia. A key player to watch for Furman is Clare Coyle, who has been a consistent force. She scored 21 points in the loss to Samford and is coming off a 25-point, 9-rebound performance in a win over UNC Greensboro on Feb. 14. Coyle has logged heavy minutes and provides significant scoring and rim protection. For Mercer, Elena Cabello is coming off her best performance of the season. In the loss to Wofford, she scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 28 minutes. Her production will be critical for the Bears’ offense as they seek to avenge January’s loss. Furman’s recent home results have been mixed, with a win over UNC Greensboro but narrow losses to East Tennessee State and Chattanooga earlier in February. Mercer has struggled on the road in conference play, with recent double-digit losses at Wofford and Samford. The game tips off Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Furman’s next scheduled game is at home against Wofford on Feb. 28. Mercer is set to host East Tennessee State on Feb. 26.