The Troy State women's basketball team will not have to change its approach for Saturday's regular season finale.

Head coach Michael Murphy has approached every game this year with the

mindset that it was the most important game. Saturday, it actually may be.

Troy State will face Mercer on the road in the final game of the regular

season Saturday, and the Trojans could have something important on the line. If Central Florida loses one of its final two games and Troy State wins, the Lady Trojans would force a three-way tie for the conference championship.

"We want to win the regular season championship, but is that our most important goal?" Murphy said. "We have to approach the game just like it's any other game."

Troy State and Mercer have both clinched spots in the Atlantic Sun

Conference that begins March 13 in Orlando. Mercer can finish no higher

than fourth in the Atlantic Sun South Division, and Troy State can finish

no worse than third.

Troy State won the first meeting when the teams played in Troy for the

conference opener. TSU won the game 76-69 in overtime but benefited from a

late offensive foul call against Mercer as the Bears were trying to

inbound while protecting a lead.

The game was in early January and Murphy said the questionable call

probably wouldn't be a source of motivation for Mercer.

"If you have to use that to get motivation, you are really reaching," Murphy said.

However, Murphy was concerned about the way Mercer would be able to approach the game.

"They can't improve their lot in the conference tournament, so they will come in loose and without any pressure," Murphy said. "They can say, 'Win

or lose, we play next week anyway.' We need to have the same attitude and

play with the same looseness, but we need to realize we can win the game

and possibly a share of the conference championship."