January 19, 2002

FURMAN SURVIVES SECOND HALF SCARE TO DEFEAT ETSU 67-64

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- After dominating the first half of Saturday's game against the East Tennessee State Bucs, the Lady Paladins needed a 6-2 run in the final 32 seconds to earn the 67-64 victory.

Furman shot a blistering 60.7% (17-28) from the field in the first period to take a 41-26 advantage into the halftime locker room. In the second half however, the Lady Paladins connected on just 29.6% (8-27) of their field goals while ETSU made 57.1% (16-28) to outscore Furman 38-26 in the period.

ETSU tied the game for the first time at 58 with 3:44 left to play. Furman pulled ahead by one when Deshara Shealey make the first of two free throws. A pair of defensive stops followed by a Kim Lawrence jumper increased the Lady Paladin lead to three, 61-58. Kiya Verdell scored on a layup with 1:49 to go to put ETSU within one, then a missed jumper by Furman's Mary Brock was followed by a Candace Gibson layup that gave East Tennesse State the one point advantage with just over a minute to play.

In the final 60 seconds Furman's Orion Wake made a layup, Deshara Shealey scored on a jumper, and Althea Bufford sank two free throws, while ETSU scored only once, on a Gibson layup with 32 seconds left in the game. ETSU point guard Erin Thruman had the ball with a one-point deficit and five ticks left on the clock, but Furman's Althea Bufford forced the turnover and was fouled on the inbounds play. Her two free throws sealed the victory - the fourth consecutive win by the Lady Paladins.

Furman was led on the day by Shealey, who scored 21 points in 28 minutes of action. Junior Orion Wake claimed her sixth double double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Kim Lawrence added 10 points to the Furman victory. The Bucs were paced by Kiya Verdell's 17 points, but Ashley Reed (11) and Lauren Thrantham (10) were also in double figures.

With the win Furman improves to 10-7 overall and 5-3 in the Southern Conference. The Bucs drop to 7-10 and 2-6. Furman will host the Cougars of College of Charleston Tuesday at 7 p.m., while ETSU is at Davidson Tuesday night at 7 p.m.