Furman Women’s Basketball Faces off Versus NC Central
The Furman Paladins Women’s Basketball (8-6) team is back from break hoping to keep the winning streak going as they face off against the NC Central Eagles (5-7) today at Timmons Arena. Eagles are coached by Terrence Baxter 1st year coach there, and 3rd year 41-28. Pierre Curtis leads Furman as a 1st year Coach of the Paladins former Assistant Coach at Furman.
It’s vital to both teams as they go into conference play next week, and we are off and running with the Eagles controlling the tip while jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Media timeout and we have a score of 8-9 NC Central with the lead with 4:49 left in the first quarter. Lady Paladins have 6 points in the paint, 2 second chance, and 1 point on a turnover as we get ready to come out of a timeout.
Furman ties the score at 13-13 with 3: 15 in the quarter, but the Eagles storm back and get 4 straight to make it 17-13. The game is a back-and-forth steal fest with Furman getting a foul and two shots, and we have a 16-17 ballgame with the Eagles still leading the Paladins. We are in the final seconds of the 1st quarter, and we end it with a score of 16-20. Furman has 8 points in the paint, 5 points off the bench, 5 points off fast breaks, and 4 points off turnovers. Your score leaders are Kate Johnson with 6 points 2 rb, Jaelyn Acker with 5 points.
Furman gets back and ties the game at 20-20, and the Eagles get a score, and it goes to 20-22 with a little over 6 minutes left. Furman gets a huge layup and foul to take the lead but misses the chance, so we are still at 26-24 after the Eagles score and we get an official timeout. Pretty good fan turnout with no students in town still due to Christmas break.
Furman is still down with 1:55 left in the half 36-26 and is having trouble passing in the paint. We are at the end of the half with the score 29-36 with NC Central leading the Lady Paladins. The Paladins leading scorers as we go into the half are Kate Johnson with 8 points and 3 rebounds, Jada session with 6 points and 7 rebounds, and two at 5 points apiece. Furman has 20 points in the paint, 8 points off turnovers, 7 fast break points, and 7 points off the bench. Furman so far for the game is shooting 40% FG, 12.5% from 3 point range, and 44.4% from the line.
The third quarter opens up with Furman closing the game in 33-36 fighting to make better passes and score inside. Furman still battling with passing the ball and fouls, both teams seem to be having that issue. Furman ties the game at 40-40 with 4:45 left then takes the lead 42-40 and the fans are having fun now. Media timeout with the Lady Paladins in the lead with 4:12 in the quarter.
The Lady Paladins have come back with 22 points in the paint, 10 points off the bench, 9 off fast break, and 15 off turnovers. Sydney James now leads Furman with 11 points and 5 rebounds in the game. Furman has pulled away to a 49-45 lead and the fans are really getting into the game now. Furman with Sydney James at the line and she hits the first one, and the second it’s now 50-45 Furman still in the lead. Furman with only 22 seconds in the half hits a 3 and its 53-47, and it ends with that score as we head to the final quarter of the game.
We start off the 4th quarter with Furman getting a shot in and a foul as our score is 55-51 with 7:54 left in the game and she hits it 56-51. Furman hits a three and then gets the rebound and scores and its 61-51 as Furman has its biggest lead today. Furman extends its lead to 66-53 with 4:40 left in the game as we have a media timeout.
Furman has outscored the Eagles 13-6 in the fourth so far in the quarter, and has shot 47% from 3 in the game, 50% from the line, and 43% from FG. Paladins hold a 13-point lead at the 3:22 mark left in the game 70-57. Timeout by Furman with 2:12 left in the game, Furman is leading 70-58 and seems to be finally controlling the ball better. Furman has 27 points off the bench, 36 points in the paint, 20 points off turn overs, 16 points off fast breaks and second chance points. here we go folks the final moments in the game, and we come out of the timeout.
NC Central gets a basket and its 70-60 with a minute left in the game. We have 35 seconds left in the game with the Paladins ready to close this one out and get a much-needed win today before we head into league play. 73-63 is our final!
