December 21, 2000

Release: Upon Receipt

FURMAN POUNDS MIDSHIPMEN 87-45 TO WIN NAVY CLASSIC;

CHARLES NAMED MVP

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland -- The Furman women's basketball team recorded a decisive 42-point, 87-45 win over the U.S. Naval Academy to emerge victorious in the annual Navy Classic Thursday night in Annapolis, Md. The win was Furman's first regular season tournament victory since 1992, when the Lady Paladins topped Stetson 105-86 to win the Lady Hatter Invitational.

The Lady Paladins jumped out to an early 37-9 lead and took a 22-point advantage into the halftime locker room, despite a 7-1 run by Navy to end the half. Freshman Kim Lawrence paced the Lady Paladins with a career-high 16 points, while senior Torrie Scott added 12 and Althea Bufford totaled 10, as the Lady Paladins shot a scorching 56% from the field for the game. Every member of the Furman team played and scored in the win, which was the biggest since Feb. 14, 1993, when the Lady Paladins topped Western Carolina 97-53.

Senior point guard Tara Charles was named tournament Most Valuable Player after recording 11 points and 14 assists in two games. Fellow senior Torrie Scott and junior Althea Bufford were also named to the All-Tournament team.

With the win, Furman improved to 7-3, the Lady Paladins' best start since 1996-97, when Furman started out 7-3, then went on to win the Southern Conference regular season and post a 19-8 overall record for the year. After a short break for, the Christmas holiday, Furman will face the Cougars of College of Charleston on Thursday, Dec.28, at 7 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.