February 27, 2000

Release: Upon Receipt

FURMAN RALLIES TO BEAT GEORGIA SOUTHERN 70-66 IN SEASON FINALE

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman's Lady Paladin basketball team rallied from an eight-point deficit with 9:50 to go to beat the Georgia Southern Eagles 70-66 in Sunday's regular season finale at Timmons Arena.

The score was tied at 34 at halftime, but the Eagles took a one point lead just two minutes into the second period and did not relinquish their advantage until a made free throw by Jackie Smith put Furman up by one with 1:47 to go. The game was still far from over, however, as the Eagles' Danna Simpson made one of two free throws to tie the game at 66 with 1:31 left to play. Furman took a two-point lead on a made layup by Smith with 1:15 to go, held the Eagles on the opposite end, and Smith again connected with 19 seconds left to give Furman the four-point advantage which held for the final score.

Furman was led by senior Jackie Smith, who scored 25 on the day with seven points coming in the last 1:47. In addition, Smith claimed a team-high nine rebounds while junior Torrie Scott added 18 points. Redshirt junior tara Charles, who along with Smith was playing her final regular season game as a Lady Paladin, led the team with eight assists.

The Eagles of GSU were topped by Amy Krach's 14 points and Tondra Warren's 10 rebounds. In addition, Danna Simpson added 13 points and Alie Rousseau totaled 11. The Eagles outrebounded Furman 41-39, but the Lady Paladins shot 44.4% from the field to the Eagles' 36.5% and Furman connected on seven more free throws than the Eagles.

With the win, Furman winds up its regular season with a 17-10 overall record and 13-5 mark in the Southern Conference. As the number two seed in the Southern Conference Tournament, the Lady Paladins will face the winner of Thursday's Davidson-College of Charleston game on Friday at 5 p.m. in Timmons Arena. The loss give Georgia Southern a 10-17 overall mark and 9-9 league record, and places them sixth in the tournament seeding.