ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Mercer used a red-hot first half to take control and then held on to beat Furman 81-71 in Friday's semifinal round of the 2021 Ingles Southern Conference Women's Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick at Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville. 
 
The second-seeded Bears (18-6), who won tournament titles in 2018 and '19, are in the championship game for the fifth time in six seasons. They will meet No. 4 Wofford (13-10) at noon Sunday, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.   
 
After allowing just 40 points in Thursday's quarterfinal win against Chattanooga, No. 6 seed Furman's defense was blitzed by Mercer's offense in the first half. 
 
The Bears shot 64 percent from the floor (21-of-33), led by Amoria Neal-Tysor's 23 points (9-of-10 from the floor, 4-of-5 from 3-point range) to take a 50-32 edge at halftime. Furman (11-14) also shot the ball well (54 percent) but turned the ball over 11 times. In the second half, the Bears shot just 33 percent (12-of-36) but were able to hold off a late Furman rally. 
 
Down by 19 points early in the third quarter, the Paladins charged back to within 72-66 in the final minute. But Neal-Tysor, who finished with 34 points in 32 minutes, had a steal, layup and two free throws in the final 60 seconds to seal the win. 
 
Celena Taborn had 24 points for the Paladins. In two tournament games, Taborn had 38 points on 17-of-19 shooting from the floor. 
 
2021 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville ? Asheville, N.C.
 
Thursday, March 4
Game 1 – No. 8 ETSU 68, No. 1 Samford 61
Game 2 – No. 4 Wofford 78, No. 5 UNCG 66
Game 3 – No. 2 Mercer 76, No. 7 Western Carolina 67
Game 4 – No. 6 Furman 58, No. 3 Chattanooga 40
 
Friday, March 5
Game 5 – No. 4 Wofford 75, No. 8 ETSU 64
Game 6 – No. 2 Mercer 81, No. 6 Furman 71
 
Sunday, March 7
Championship Game
Game 7 – No. 4 Wofford vs. No. 2 Mercer, 12 p.m.
 
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game also on Nexstar.