SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Whitney Bunn scored 18 points, including a pair of late 3-pointers, to power Furman past USC Upstate, 75-63, in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Hodge Center.
Bunn, a junior point guard, connected on 7-of-14 shots, and added a free throw for her game high tally, and the All-Southern Conference performer tacked on nine assists to pace the Paladins (6-4), who claimed their second road victory of the season and sixth triumph in the last seven meetings with the Spartans (5-5).
"After what I thought was a poor effort in our last game at Georgia, I thought we bounced back really strong today against a very athletic, solid USC Upstate team," said Furman head coach Jackie Carson, who improved to 3-1 in her coaching career against the Spartans. "I thought we made some good adjustments as the game went, particularly on the defensive end, that played a key role in helping us win the game."
Furman, which led from start to finish, sported a 67-59 lead with 2:10 remaining when Bunn buried a 3-pointer from beyond the top of the circle to put the Paladins up 70-59. Following a pair of free throws by the Spartans and a timeout, Bunn delivered again from the same spot with 1:24 to go, effectively sealing the outcome.
Holli Wilkins and Kelsey Ellis followed with 16 points apiece, and Cierra Carter rounded out the Paladins' double figure scoring effort with 11 points. Ellis, a senior guard who played all 40 minutes in her first start of the season for the injured Allison Beasley, paced a strong perimeter shooting performance by the Paladins, connecting on four first half 3-pointers, part of Furman's 8-for-14 effort from beyond the arc. For the game Furman shot 52.8 percent, its second best outing of the season.
Paladin centers Shianne Goodwin and Tiara Wood combined to contribute 14 points and 11 rebounds, with Goodwin tallying six of her eight points and three of her four rebounds in the third quarter.
Raven Jefferson led USC Upstate with 15 points, and three players — Brittany Starling, Travonda Haddock, and Kristen Dickerson — tallied 13 points for the Spartans, who struggled from the field, shooting 34.7 percent (25-of-72), including just 4-of-23 from 3-point range.
Furman used hot shooting to grab a 23-17 lead after one quarter and carried it over to the second period to finished the first half shooting 61.5 percent (16-of-26) for a 40-34 halftime advantage.
The Spartans opened the second half with a 7-2 run to get within a point at 42-41 on a Dickerson 3-pointer, but after Upstate's bid to take the lead on its next possession failed, Furman answered with a 6-0 spurt, using a pair of Ellis free throws and baskets by Goodwin and Wilkins, to go up 48-41 with five minutes remaining in the period
USC Upstate could never get closer than five points the rest of the way, and Furman posted its first double digit lead of the game at 64-54 on a Goodwin basket with 6:37 to go on the contest.
Upstate claimed a 45-36 rebounding advantage, including a 24-7 differential on the offensive glass, but the Spartans' couldn't capitalize due to poor shooting.
Furman will wrap up final exams next week before returning to action on Friday at UNC Asheville in an 11:00 a.m. Education Day contest.