Wednesday, November 14, 2007

FURMAN RALLIES TO DEFEAT TUSCULUM 77-63 IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

GREENVILLE, S.C. --- Katie Johnson recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Furman women’s basketball team to a 77-63 win over visiting Tusculum, Wednesday night at Timmons Arena. (Box Score)

The Lady Paladins improve to 1-1 on the year and our victorious in their home opener. The contest for Tusculum was an exhibition game. TC will open its season this Friday night when they host Livingstone in the opening game of the Greene County Express Classic at Pioneer Arena.

Tusculum freshman Jasmine Gunn led all scorers with 22 points, while Ashli Oliver added 19 points, including 14 in the second half.

The game was hotly contested early before Tusculum jumped out to 23-13 advantage at the 6:33 mark of the first half, following a jumper by Jasmine Parker. Furman answered with a 20-5 spurt to close out the half to take a 33-28 lead at the intermission. During the run, Tusculum suffered serious foul trouble as the Pioneers where whistled 15 times in the opening half. Furman shot 21-for-29 from the free throw line, including 15-for-20 in the first 20 minutes.

Trailing 35-28 in the opening moments of the second period, TC went on an 8-0 run sparked by a lay-up by Gunn and a pair of three-pointers from Oliver as the Pioneers regained the lead 36-35 with 17:26 remaining.

The game would be tied five different times in the final period, including 49-49 with 11:30 left, capped off by a Gunn jumper. Furman scored the next five points and closed out the final seven minutes with a 14-7 run.

Tusculum’s Stephany Neptune tallied a team-high nine rebounds, while Gunn finished with eight assists and five boards in the contest.

- TC -