GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman's women's basketball team tips off its 2026-27 home season on Wednesday when it plays host to Erskine in a 5:00 p.m. contest at Timmons Arena.
 
The game will lead off a doubleheader of Wednesday hoops at Timmons that will also feature the Paladin men taking on Bob Jones beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
Tickets for all women's and men's home games can be purchased online by clicking here. 
 
Head coach Pierre Curtis' squad opened the season on Monday night with an 80-54 loss at South Florida.
 
Curtis, now in his fourth season as head coach, welcomes the return of eight letterwinners and four starters off last year's squad that posted an 18-13 overall record and 9-5 Southern Conference mark, good for fourth place.  The Paladins, who were the preseason No. 1 pick in the poll of SoCon head coaches, a position also claimed by the Furman men's squad, boast a pair of All-SoCon performers in 6-foot-1 junior forward Clare Coyle and 5-foot-11 guard Alyssa Ervin.  Coyle led Furman with 15 points in Monday's opener versus South Florida, and Ervin added 14.

Coyle, a two-year starter and both a first team all-league selection and all-defensive team pick, proved to be the SoCon's most complete player last season, pacing the league in rebounding (9.1), field goal percentage (.547), and double-doubles (11), while ranking fourth in scoring (14.8), third in steals (2.0), and fourth in blocked shots (1.38).  She was the only player in the conference to rank in the top four in all six categories.  The Jacksonville, Fla., product was recently named to the 25-player Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List

Ervin, who joined Furman in the spring of 2025, fashioned an outstanding first season with the Paladins, ranking sixth in the league in scoring (13.8), seventh in free throw shooting (.728), eighth in steals (1.64), and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.351).  The Galax, Va., native connected on game winning shots in three of the Paladins' record six SoCon road victories — vs. East Tennessee State, Wofford, and UNC Greensboro.  She was a second team all-conference pick who captured first team SoCon All-Tournament laurels, primarily on the strength of a career high 27-point outburst in a 66-45 win over Mercer in first round action and combined 9x14 work from 3-point range in two tourney contests. 

Other top returnees include 5-foot-10 junior guard Raina McGowens (9.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and 5-foot-7 sophomore guard Sophia Pearl (5.5 ppg, 69 ast.).

McGowens, a two-year starter, paced Furman in getting to the free throw line (102x154) a year ago.    

Pearl averaged 31.1 minutes/game over the final six games. 

A pair of junior transfers, 6-foot forward Ciara Alexander (Campbell) and 5-foot-7 guard Ava Sawi (Radford), are joined by three freshmen — 5-foot-10 guard Nariah Nelson, 5-foot-8 guard Keegan Morris, and 6-foot forward Emma Briggs — in forming the contingent of five newcomers this year.

Alexander saw action in 66 games and averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over two campaigns at Campbell.  She earned CAA All-Rookie Team honors in 2025 and helped the Camels to a 20-12 campaign a year ago.  Nelson was a three-time all-state pick as a prep and keyed Hebron (Ga.) Christian to a 30-1 record and 2A state championship her senior year.  Briggs, meanwhile, helped pace Benet (Ill.) Academy to a combined 56-8 record her junior and senior years while twice collecting all-state laurels.
 
Furman defeated Erskine 100-31 two years ago and has won the last nine meetings with the Flying Fleet.
 
Wednesday's contest will not be live streamed, as will be the case for all Paladin home games against non-Division opponents this season.  Fans can follow the action online via StatBroadcast live stats, with links available via the schedule page on FurmanPaladins.com.