Furman hosts Mercer after Coyle's 21-point game

The Paladins look to bounce back from a loss to Samford as they face the Bears for the second time this season.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Furman University's women's basketball team will host the Mercer Bears on Saturday after Clare Coyle scored 21 points in the Paladins' 68-59 loss to the Samford Bulldogs earlier this week. This will be the second meeting of the season between Furman and Mercer, with the Paladins winning the previous matchup 60-49.

Why it matters

Furman is looking to rebound from their loss to Samford, which dropped their conference record to 4-6. A win over Mercer would help the Paladins improve their standing in the Southern Conference standings as they push for a postseason berth.

The details

In the loss to Samford, sophomore guard Clare Coyle led Furman with 21 points. The Paladins will need another strong performance from Coyle as they host a Mercer team that they defeated 60-49 earlier this season.

  • Furman lost to Samford 68-59 on February 18, 2026.
  • Furman and Mercer previously met on January 25, 2026, with Furman winning 60-49.

The players

Clare Coyle

A sophomore guard for the Furman Paladins women's basketball team.

Mercer Bears

The women's basketball team from Mercer University.

Furman Paladins

The women's basketball team from Furman University.

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What’s next

The winner of Saturday's game will take a step closer to securing a spot in the Southern Conference tournament.

The takeaway

Furman will look to bounce back from their recent loss and continue their strong play against conference opponents as they host Mercer in an important Southern Conference matchup.