By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          There was a reason to have a selection-show watching party for Mercer, even though the Bears knew they were in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

          Find out the who, where, and when.

          Alas, a major screw-up somewhere with the NCAA and ESPN spoiled watch parties throughout the country, but gave coaches two more hours of scouting-report scouring.

          The NCAA women’s bracket was released early, and the 7 p.m. show was moved up to 5, and Mercer found out that it’s a 15 seed that will travel to Iowa for the first round.

          The Bears and Hawkeyes will play at 2 p.m. Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

          The school changed plans, and will have a “send-off party” at 6:30 p.m. at Hawkins Arena.

          Mercer was destined for a 15th seed, with an RPI of 132. Iowa is No. 7, having gone 26-6 and won the Big Ten tournament with wins over Indiana, Rutgers, and top seed Maryland.

          The Bears are 25-7, their third straight season of at least 25 wins and fifth straight 20-win season.

          This will be the first meeting between the Bears and Hawkeyes. Mercer has a recent Big 10 win on its resume, winning 51-33 at Illinois early in the 2016-17 season. The Bears lost 77-72 against Wisconsin in a tournament in Nashville early in the 2013-14 season when Mercer went 17-14.

          The teams have a common opponent, Florida State: Iowa lost 71-61 in late November in the Bahamas, and Mercer fell 57-56 at home in early December. Iowa’s other non-conference loss was 105-71 to then-No. 1 Notre Dame.

          The winner gets either Missouri or Drake. Mercer hasn’t played either of those teams.