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Paris' 21 Leads Furman Past Gardner-Webb 76-69
Nov. 24, 2004
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Tommi Paris matched a career high with 21 points and Furman scored 33 points at the free throw line to edge Gardner-Webb 76-69 in women's basketball action Wednesday night at Timmons Arena.
Battling foul trouble most of the evening, Paris, a junior guard from Chattanooga, Tenn., connected on 5-of-7 field goals, including a pair of three-pointers, and converted 9-of-10 free throws, to match her career high set last season in an 83-58 win over East Tennessee State. Jen Nadalin added 19 points for Furman (1-1), which drained 33-of-43 free throws in the contest.
Gardner-Webb (0-3) got a career high 20 points and 10 rebounds from Candyse Kelly. The Lady Bulldogs, led by Crissy Guzman's career high 17 boards, posted a 53-36 advantage on the glass, but it wasn't enough to offset Furman's advantage at the free throw line. Gardner-Webb also shot poorly at the stripe, converting only 11-of-24 opportunities.
"We're very happy to get a win tonight," said Furman head coach Sam Dixon. "I thought the team played hard for 40 minutes, and Princess Wells really took over for us down the stretch. Laney Harris also hit a big shot for us late. It was a good team effort against a much improved Gardner-Webb team."
Katie Roach joined Paris and Nadalin in double figures with 10 points thanks to a perfect 10-for-10 performance at the free throw line.
Furman used a 13-2 run over the final five minutes of the first half to take a 40-29 lead into the halftime locker room.
Gardner-Webb opened the second half with a 19-2 run to take a 48-42 lead on a layup by Shameka Smith with 13:53 to go in the contest.
Furman responded with a 12-0 burst, highlighted by a pair of Tommi Paris three-pointers, to forge a 54-48 lead following a pair of Katie Roach free throws at the 10:29 juncture.
A Nadalin layup off an assist by Melynda Gant with 7:56 to go gave Furman a 59-52 advantage, but Gardner-Webb rallied with a free throw and jump shot by Brittany Harmon and a Sequenta Blackman three-pointer, to make it a 59-58 contest with 7:01 remaining.
After Paris fouled out with 3:04 left and Furman holding a slim 67-66 lead, Laney Harris came off the bench and delivered her only field goal of the contest, a three-pointer from the right wing, with 2:46 to go to give the Lady Paladins a 70-67 lead.
A pair of Katie Roach free throws with 1:27 left extended the Lady Paladin advantage to 72-67, and from that point Princess Wells delivered Furman's final four points from the charity stripe to seal the victory.
Furman returns to action Friday night when it entertains UNC-Asheville in a 7:00 p.m. game.
