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Furman Overcomes Sluggish Start to Post Fourth Consecutive Win
Dec. 4, 2004
GREENVILLE, South Carolina - Furman's Lady Paladin basketball team overcame a sluggish start on Saturday to snap a seven-game USC-Aiken win streak with a 79-62 decision in Timmons Arena.
Furman led 8-2 four minutes into the game, but the Pacers put together a 16-6 run to take an 18-14 lead on an Eboni Speller jump shot at the 11:14 mark. The Lady Paladins tied the game on a Katie Roach jumper and regained the lead on a Chrissy Phelps basket, but USCA responded with a Kasey Mills three pointer and made jump shots off two consecutive Furman turnovers, to take a 25-20 lead with 7:30 to go.
The Pacers continued to hold the advantage and were up by one with 3:49 to go, when freshman Jessica Lange gave Furman a one point lead on a jumper with 3:33 left in the half. Mills connected on another basket to put the Pacers back on top by one. A turnover by Jen Nadalin gave USCA a chance to stretch the lead, but the Speller three pointer did not fall and point guard Tommi Paris grabbed the rebound and went the length of the floor for a layup that gave Furman a one point advantage, 35-34, entering halftime.
Senior Laney Harris, who went 0-for-2 from three point range in the first half, connected on her first attempt of the second period to give Furman a four point lead just seconds into the half. The Pacers' Lana Mandic answered with a made jumper, but the Lady Paladins used a 10-0 run to stretch the advantage to 12 with 16:53 left to play. Though USCA pulled to within six, 56-50, at the 11:12 mark, the Lady Paladin press wore down the Pacers and forced six USCA turnovers in the final 10:21 to hold on for the 17-point win.
"In the first half we were a little sluggish, but in the second half we came out with much more energy and focus," said Dixon after the game. "That's (USCA) a doggone good basketball team. They are 9-3 for a good reason - they can shoot, they've got good inside play, and they pass the ball well - so I think we had to realize that they are good and it was going to be a grind it out kind of game."
Mills led the Pacers for the day with 21 points, including five made three-pointers, six assists, and two steals. Nola Grant added 10 points, while Lana Mandic totaled six points and six rebounds in the game.
The Lady Paladins were paced by junior guard Tommi Paris, who scored 20 points, dished off five assists, and claimed six steals with just one turnover in 34 minutes of play. Jen Nadalin added her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Katie Roach contributed 10 to the Furman points total.
"Tommi made some great strides in terms of understanding, conceptually, what we are trying to get done," said Dixon. "Today she made easy passes, got people involved, and was very active herself in the attacking mode."
With the win, Furman improves to 4-1 before heading into Southern Conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 7, when the Lady Paladins host Elon in a 7 p.m. game at Timmons Arena.
