February 1, 2003

FURMAN ROLLS PAST UNCG 68-49

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- UNCG committed a season-high tying 31 turnovers, while Deshara Shealey scored a game-high 21 points as the Lady Paladins rolled past the Spartans, 68-49, in Southern Conference women's basketball action from Fleming Gym Saturday afternoon.

Trailing by 16 late in the first-half and 12 at the break, the Spartans (9-9, 5-5 SoCon) fought back to get within six points, 41-35, with 15:47 left, but the Lady Paladins (11-8, 7-3 SoCon) answered with a 15-2 run. Laney Harris closed out the game-sealing spurt with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving Furman a 19-point lead, 56-37, with 10:55 remaining.The Lady Paladins would extend the lead to as many as 21 and the Spartans would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Shealey finished 9-for-20 from the floor to lead three Furman players in double figures. Shealey also added six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Kim Lawrence scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Laney Harris added 11 points off the bench. Harris drilled three 3-pointers on the afternoon.

Jacinda Lambert led the UNCG attack with 16 points, but also committed seven turnovers. Lindsey Reed and Nicole Murray each scored 11 to round out the double figure scorers for the Spartans.

The 31 turnovers tied the season-high for UNCG. The Spartans also turned it over 31 times in a 62-49 loss against SMU back on December 29 at the DoubleTree Classic.

The Lady Paladins and Spartans played a frenetic first 20-minutes. Furman jumped out to a four-point lead, 17-13, with some stellar perimeter shooting. The Lady Paladins knocked down four 3-point field goals in the game's first 10 minutes. Furman pushed the lead to eight points, 25-17, but Lambert buried a 3-pointerÝ with 9:23 left in the opening period to close the gap to five points, 25-20. The Lady Paladins continued its full-court pressure the entire first-half. The press not only forced 15 first-half Spartan turnovers, but sparked a 13-2 run after the Lambert 3-point field goal, giving Furman its largest lead of the half, 38-22. In fact, UNCG managed just one field goal and committed seven turnovers in the crucial six minute stretch. The Spartans were able to narrow the deficit to 12-points, 39-27, at halftime.

Furman return to action at home on Monday night when it hosts Southern Conference rival Wofford at 7:00 p.m.