NOVEMBER 13, 2003
FURMAN LADY PALADINS UPEND FRANCIS MARION 74-53
GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- The Furman post game showed its depth Thursday night, wearing down the Patriots of Francis Marion as the Lady Paladins took a 74-53 victory in a preseason exhibition game at Timmons Arena.
Junior forward Katie Roach scored 16 points and claimed 10 rebounds for the nightıs only double-double, while fellow forward Jen Nadalin scored 10 and center Orion Wake added eight points and 11 boards to the Furman effort. Though the Lady Paladins connected on just 34.2% of its first half field goals and 50% of its free throws on the night, Furman outrebounded FMU 55-39 and took 18 more shots than the Patriots.
The Lady Paladins took an early 21-6 advantage in the game, but Francis Marion stormed back to pull within six, 30-24, at the 2:09 mark. Sophomore guard Tommi Paris answered with 1:48 left in the half by making the Lady Paladinsı first three pointer of the night, then Orion Wake connected on a field goal with four seconds left to give Furman the 35-24 halftime advantage.
In the second period, the Lady Paladins settled in and made a more respectable 47.1% (16-of-34) of their field goals and 33.3% (2-for-6) of their three pointers while extending the lead to as many as 26.
After the game, coach Sam Dixon reflected on the Lady Paladinsı only preseason game. ³I was very pleased with how we ran the ball up and down the court,² said Dixon. ³I thought we did a good job with feeding the post, I thought we were successful scoring inside with the post, and I thought Katie Roach came of the bench and did a good job getting a double-double.²