DECEMBER 17, 1999

RELEASE: UPON RECEIPT

FURMAN TOPS WAKE FOREST 68-51 AT TIMMONS ARENA

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman's Lady Paladin basketball team pulled off a 68-51 victory over the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest Friday night at Timmons Arena behind the play of senior captain Jackie Smith, who recorded her 37th career double-double. The win was Furman's second consecutive victory over the Deacons.

Furman held a tentative 29-27 lead at halftime, but Wake Forest took the lead 34-32 at the 16:34 mark and held the advantage until 12:30, when a pair of free throws by Smith evened the score, and then gave the Lady Paladins the lead. Furman stretched that lead into a 14-point advantage with 7:38 to go and led by double digits in all but 10 seconds of the game's remainder. Freshman Lauren Moran made a pair of free throws with :39 to go to give Furman its final points total and 17-point advantage ­ the biggest of the game.

Smith, the Southern Conference preseason Player of the Year, scored 21 points and tied her career high with 19 rebounds, while Torrie Scott added 13 points and Ashley Shipp tallied 12. Kena Hodges was playing on a sprained ankle, but managed eight points, six rebounds, and two blocks in 30 minutes of action.

The Demon Deacons were led by Brenda Kirkpatrick's 20 points and 10 rebounds, while LaChina Robinson added 11 points and Val Klopfer scored six. With the win, Furman improves to 3-4 on the year, while Wake Forest falls to 2-5.

The Lady Paladins are at home again on Monday, December 20, at 6 p.m. versus Southern Conference foe Wofford. The Paladin men play Bethune-Cookman at the conclusion of the women's game.