December 17, 2001

Release: Upon Receipt

FURMAN WOMEN KNOCK OFF ORAL ROBERTS AT

FUN IN THE SUN SHOOTOUT

CANCUN, Mexico -- Furman's Lady Paladin basketball team improved to 6-3 on the year Monday night with a 60-58 victory over Oral Roberts University in the Cancun Fun in the Sun Shootout. Furman will play the winner of the Pepperdine-Tulsa game Tuesday night at 8 p.m. CST.

Up two with five seconds to play, Furman guard Deshara Shealey fouled on the inbounds play and Oral Roberts tied the game at 58 all with a pair of made free throws. With time running out Furman drove the length of the floor and freshman guard Monica Pope sank an eight foot jumper to win the game by two.

"Itis so nice to have such a young team who listens and executes your game plan," said coach Sherry Carter. "ORU is a big, physical team, but we were able to win tonight because everyone executed the game plan and worked as a team."

Carter had particular praise for the Furman inside game, which was led by Orion Wake's 11 points and Jen Nadalin's 10. "Our inside game was strong tonight," said Carter. "The guards got the ball to the posts and posts put it away."

Furman was led on the night by Pope, whose game-winning field goal gave her 14 points. Wake and Nadalin were next with Kim Lawrence scoring nine, Mary Brock adding six, and Althea Bufford and Deshara Shealey each contributing four.