MACON, GA -- Precious Bridges scored a game high 24 points and sank a pair of free throws in the final second of play to help Mercer claim a 71-67 victory over visiting Furman at Hawkins Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Bridges converted 8-of-12 field goal attempts and 7-of-9 free throws while adding four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 36 minutes of action to spark the Bears (3-2), who next year will join the Southern Conference.

Kendra Grant added 18 points, Briana Williams 11 points, and Alicia Williams 10 points for Mercer.

Furman got a career high 21 points from Holli Wilkins, who logged 39 minutes of action for the Paladins (1-4).  Sarah Durdaller joined Wilkins with 16 points and Brittany Hodges added 11 points and a game high 13 rebounds.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the field and battled to a virtual deadlock on the boards, but Furman committed 18 turnovers to the Mercer's 11, which helped the Bears claim the win.

Hodges gave Furman a 57-55 lead with seven minutes remaining before Mercer tied it a minute later on a Williams jump shot and then took the lead for good on a pair of Teanna Robinson free throws with 5:15 to go.

Grant's jumper and a Williams layup put the Bears up 67-61 with three minutes remaining, and Mercer  used two Bridges free throws with 2:18 remaining to extend its advantage to seven points, 69-62.

Furman cut it to 69-67 with a Hodges layup, Durdaller free throw, and two free throws from Wilkins, but the Paladins' bid to tie the game was denied when Robinson blocked a shot by Wilkins with two second to go, and the Bears claimed the rebound.  Bridges then nailed down the verdict with two free throws  with one second remaining.

Sunday's game ended a three-game road stretch for Furman, which returns home to entertain Yale on Wednesday in a 5:00 p.m. game.