Furman Women’s Basketball Opens up Versus UNC Asheville
The Furman Women’s Basketball team will be opening up its season tonight versus UNC Asheville at Timmons Arena, with a season of promise and excitement in the air as first year Head Coach Pierre Curtis leads the Lady Paladins into battle. The Lady Paladins bring back SoCon 5’9 Guard star Tate Walters along with a host of great talent at each position which has them looking for more than what the press and voters are expecting this year. Here is an interview with Tate from this past SoCon Media Day where you get to know here a little better. (Game Thread)
We have the tipoff, and the Furman Lady Paladins are off and going for the 2023\24 season and wins the jump off and score right off the bat. UNC Asheville starts off hot and gets a 7-2 lead before Furman battles back to make it 7-5 after a 3 pointer from #4 Tate Walters her first points since 2022. The first timeout comes with 4:42 left in the first period, score 7-9 UNC Asheville leading with a chance to take a 1on 1 shot, so far, a very fast paced back and forth battle between both team.
UNC Asheville has the hot hand at the moment with a 18-12 lead with under 3 minutes left. Furman starts to battle back and its now 18-14 with a minute left in the period. The period runs out with the score 18-14 UNC Asheville leading Furman as we head to the second period. Furman was led by Jada Session 6 points, Tate Walters 5 points in the period, also Sydney James followed with 5 rebounds in the period.
Tate Walters goes out with a foul and appears to be limping so hopefully she will be able to return after being out all last year. The Paladins get a shot in and its now 20-16 and we are seeing the Lady Dins give a battle to make things happen on the boards. Walters comes back in after a timeout and scores and quickly gets a shot in and the Paladins get their first lead 22-20 over the visiting UNC Asheville team with 6:02 left in the period. Walters gets another 3 and its 25-20 Paladins extending the lead as the Lady Dins are starting to gel and work the ball better. Walters is hot and drains another 3 with under a minute its now 34-29 Lady Dins in the lead. The Lady Dins have the ball for the last shot and its, but it’s stolen by UNC Asheville and a made shot to end the half 34-31. Halftime stats brought to you by Furman Joust Podcast which is live from Arden’s Burger and Grill each week, Tae Walters leads all Furman scorers with 15 points, Niveya Henly with 7 points, Jada Session with 6 points. Rebounds was led by Sydney Ryan with 6 and Sydney James with 5 for the half. Furman had 4 Turnovers, 16 points in the paint, 10 second chance points, 4 fast break points, and 9 points coming off the bench.
First comes out and starts the scoring and its 39-32 and here we go as the Lady Dins want to push the ball down low and they have the height over UNC Asheville. Things are getting chippy down low as Asheville is not going down without a fight 41-34 with 7 minutes left in the period and a timeout on the court. Walters with 15 and Session with 10 lead the Paladins coming out of the timeout, Asheville is led by Bruce with 9 points. UNC Asheville is battling back and its now 43-42 with 5 minutes left in the period. Furman has had to get some major baskets to stay in front as its 48-44 with under 2 minutes left in the period. The score after 3 is 51-44 heading into the 4th quarter with Walters leading scores with 17 points.
Furman has taken over the game again and it is now 57-46 with 7:25 left in the game! The Furman Women’s basketball team is playing tough and winning in the paint 57-48 as UNC Asheville only has one timeout left and Furman has all 4 left. UNC Asheville hits a huge 3 pointer with the score 59-51 and 6:28 left in the game. The score is now 61-56 and Asheville is playing tough as Walters for Furman looks visible in pain but is playing through it so far.
Both teams have been playing hard and giving huge effort as UNC Asheville refuses to go away and Furman has had to withstand the 3-point shots of UNC Asheville. This has to be the game of the week so far between all men’s and women’s played this week. The game ends with a great defensive performance by Furman to keep UNC Asheville from a comeback and ends 71-61 and 1st Year Coach Pierre Curtis wins his debut!
