ETSU Bucs

Coach Brittney Ezell

Opening statement
“First of all, congratulations to Mercer University on a fantastic year. Like us, they were newcomers to the SoCon, and there were a lot of unknowns. For them to have the Player of the Year in Precious Bridges and Kahlia Lawrence, congratulations to those young ladies and their team on a fantastic year in the SoCon. As for the game, I think we just grinded it out. It wasn’t pretty by any means, with the exception of a stretch in the first half where we got out in transition. We played in transition midway through the second half and at about the 14-minute mark was when I knew it was starting to kick in for our kids much like it did yesterday. I thought we rebounded the ball extremely well, even from the point guard position. For Tianna Tarter to have 15 and 15, and to have three kids with double-doubles, is a reflection of their effort. We told them yesterday that these games aren’t about plays, they are about players making plays. I thought we had enough players make plays tonight to be successful. I’m extremely proud of the kids.”

On finishing the first half on a 21-8 run
“We are notoriously slow starters. It is going to have to be something that we guard against when we play Chattanooga on Sunday. I think our kids are really strong finishers, and we talk to them about that. It is really not how you start, it is how you finish. They finished both halves with a lot of energy. They still seem to have some in reserve. I think about midway through both halves, they find another gear. I think that was the big thing today, that we found another gear in both halves.”

On playing Chattanooga on Sunday
“Sometimes you don’t necessarily want to ask for it, but all any athlete wants is an opportunity to compete. That’s what our kids want. I think we gave them a great game at our place. We played really well, and if a couple things go differently, I think it could have been a different outcome. We went to their place without our point guard, and I thought we had a really valiant effort, especially in the second half when the shellshock wore off. Tournament time is fun. You just never know. You have some people emerge who maybe weren’t being counted on as much that can step up and be a hero. It gives our kids an opportunity to compete, and that’s all we ever talk about. We have never talked to our kids about winning. We like to talk about hanging banners, but Chattanooga does that right now. Until somebody dethrones them, it is just a wish. Our senior class hadn’t won a conference tournament game since they’ve been here. They went four years of eight or nine wins, and this year we have 21. We’re just really grateful that the kids have bought into our culture. The kids play with such a spirit of gratitude. I know they are going to be grateful of the opportunity and compete their heart out. That’s all a coach can ask for.”

ETSU senior forward Serena Clark

On Tianna Tarter’s impact on the team, and how playing without her against Chattanooga in the regular season affected the team
“As far as the Chattanooga game, it just didn’t feel right. We knew she wasn’t going to be there. We had a clear mind, but we have had her all season and she started all season, so it didn’t feel right without her. But we are glad to have her back, and she is doing well.”

On ending her senior season on a good note
“I’m having a lot of fun. We are staying focused. It’s almost unreal because we haven’t been in this position, but everybody is locked in and focused. We all have the same goal. It’s been a lot of fun but we have one more game left, and we have to stay focused.”

On what she expects against Chattanooga
“I expect a very good game. Chattanooga is a very disciplined team, a very tough team. They haven’t lost a conference game this season. We have been starting out slow the past two games, but we have to start from the beginning and finish the game. We have to play 40 minutes on Sunday, but it will be a very good game.”

Mercer Bears

Coach Susie Gardner

Opening statement
“It is difficult to, maybe not finish our season, but the SoCon tournament on this note. We worked hard all year and felt like we were ready to play ETSU. (Coach) Brittney Ezell has done a great job with them in two years in getting them to the championship game. When you shoot 20 percent in the first half and 29 percent in the game, it’s difficult to win any basketball game. I felt that was a big part of our lack of success.”

On ETSU’s run in the first half
“Transition offense for them. They were getting easy baskets, transition layups and offensive rebounds. They did a good job in the block, and I know we didn’t get many stops in the post. At halftime, their post players had 21 of their 31 points. I thought it was their transition offense.”

On team struggling from the field
“I thought we took good shots, but they weren’t going. Kahlia (Lawrence) was 0-for-8 in the first half and that’s very uncharacteristic for her. She was getting good shots.”

Senior guard Precious Bridges

On team struggling from the field
“It’s never the gym. It’s us as people, and I don’t think we were very focused, and they weren’t falling.”