FURMAN LADY PALADINS DOWN CHATTANOOGA
76-71
GREENVILLE -- Kim Lawrence poured in 22 points and Tara Charles added 12 points, 10 assists, and a key 3-pointer with just over a minute to play to lift Furman to a 76-71 win over visiting Chattanooga in Southern Conference women's basketball action Saturday at Timmons Arena.
In gaining the victory Furman (17-8, 11-5 SoCon) denied Chattanooga (19-6, 13-3 SoCon) sole possession of first place in the conference. The Lady Mocs, who got a game and season high 29 points from Damita Bullock, are now locked in a three-way tie for first with Georgia Southern and UNC Greensboro following Georgia Southern's 71-66 victory over UNC Greensboro on Saturday. The win also avenged Furman's earlier 69-62 loss in Chattanooga.
"I thought it was a very evenly played game involving a lot of strategy, and it came down to our zone defense, which was effective," said Furman head coach Sherry Carter. "I'm just glad we won."
Leading 36-31 at intermission, Furman twice extended its lead to seven points in the second half, the second time following a layup by Orion Wake with 13:07 remaining to put the Lady Paladins ahead 51-44.
Chattanooga answered with a 15-4 run to go up 59-55 following two free throws by Bullock with 8:16 remaining.
After a Lawrence jump shot made it a 59-57 game at the 7:59 juncture, the Lady Mocs reeled off five straight points on a bucket by Jennifer Wilson and a 3-pointer by Bullock to go ahead 64-57 with seven minutes left.
Furman responded with an 8-1 spurt to tie the game at 65-65 on a jumper by Lawrence at the 3:16 mark.
The Lady Paladins later took the lead for good when Tara Charles canned a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:17 left to give Furman a 70-69 lead.
The Lady Paladins then put the game away by converting 6-of-7 free throw attempts in the game's final minute, including a pair by Kena Hodges and four straight by Lawrence.
For the game Furman shot a sizzling 55.4 percent from the field (31-of-56) and 60 percent from 3-point range (6-for-10). Chattanooga, meanwhile, shot only 36.2 percent from the field and was outrebounded 46-35 by the Lady Paladins.
Despite accurate shooting and solid rebounding, Furman struggled with ballhandling, committing 19 turnovers to the Lady Mocs' eight miscues.
Furman returns to action on Monday when it takes on Georgia Southern in Statesboro in a 5:00 p.m. game.