Furman’s women’s basketball team hosted Senior Day and celebrated National Women and Girls in Sports Day as they outlasted Wofford in two overtimes, winning 93-88 on Feb. 8.
The Saturday Southern Conference clash featured five foul disqualifications, 53 fouls, and 12 lead changes throughout regulation and both overtimes.
In the first half, the Paladins dominated offensively. They shot 14-24 from the field and held a 14-point (45-31) lead into halftime.
After the break, the Terriers battled back and went on a 20-3 scoring run in five minutes to take the lead 52-51 with under four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The teams went back and forth until Wofford retook the lead and stretched their advantage to six as the fourth quarter began.
Furman rallied, bringing the score to 70-68 thanks to a layup by junior guard Sydney Ryan with under three minutes to play. Wofford’s sophomore forward Evangelia Paulk was fouled on the ensuing possession and sank her two free throws to tie the game 70-70.
With two seconds left in regulation, graduate student guard Tate Walters made a basket in the paint to put Furman up 72-70. Paulk was then fouled again and made both free throws to tie the game 72-72 as time expired on the following inbound.
The first overtime was similar to the end of the fourth quarter — each team exchanged baskets until Wofford junior guard Libby Privett made two free throws to put the Terriers ahead 82-80. With under a second left to play, freshman forward Clare Coyle banked in a buzzer beating jumpshot to send the game into a second overtime.
With less than a minute to play in the second overtime period, senior forward Jada Session scored a go-ahead layup to put Furman up 84-82. The Dins converted on their final six free throw attempts to prevail over Wofford 93-88.
Session and Walters led the team with 18 points a piece. Session also contributed 11 rebounds to add to her double-double and shot 9-11 from the field. Freshman guard Chantelle Stuart added in 14 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Paladins.
Following the victory, the Dins moved to 13-11 for the season and 3-5 in the Southern Conference. Furman will next travel to Greensboro, N.C. to face the University of North Carolina Greensboro Spartans on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
