ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Kelsey Ellis scored a career high 18 points and ignited a strong half shooting performance to propel Furman to a 73-55 victory over Winthrop in women's basketball action Monday evening at the Winthrop Coliseum.

Ellis, a junior wing from Pooler, Ga., delivered a pair of 3-pointers in the first half and in the second period drained four treys in six attempts, part of the Paladins' 6-for-9 shooting effort from beyond the arc over the game's final 20 minutes, to help Furman (2-0) cruise to the win.

The Paladins converted just 12-of-40 shots in the first half (30.0 percent) but heated up to 53.3 percent in the second half, finding the mark on 16-of-30 attempts.

Whitney Bunn tallied 13 points and a career high 11 assists, and Sarah Durdaller contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds, mostly in the first half after Paladin senior forward Brittany Hodges exited the game following two early fouls.

Freshman Cierra Carter also contributed 10 points in only her second collegiate contest, and Hodges' most effective replacement, sophomore Tiara Wood, tallied four points to go along with a career high 10 rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

"I'm very proud of the team effort our players displayed tonight," said head coach Jackie Carson. "We struggled offensively at times but did a great job rebounding and getting stops when we needed them.  Our transition game generated easy baskets and energy on both ends, and I'm extremely proud of our bench and how they responded when their name was called.  We played a great second half against a quality, well-coached opponent."

Winthrop (1-1), with four starters returning off a 24-9 team that last year won the Big South Conference Championship and played in the NCAA Tournament, got a game high 19 points from Schaquilla Nunn, but the Eagles had no answer for Furman, especially in shooting and rebounding as the Eagles made just 28.6 percent of their shots and were outboarded 58-44 by the Paladins.

Furman grabbed control of the game six minutes into the second half, using an 18-0 run over a six-minute span to extend a 40-37 lead to a 58-37 advantage with 7:47 remaining. A Carter jump shot with 13:16 to go ignited the run, and a basket and three-point play by Bunn, two Ellis 3-pointers, and a Wood layup helped fuel the decisive stretch that put Furman in command.

Ellis, whose previous career high (12 points) had come against Auburn in WNIT action last season, finished off the long range shooting display with her final 3-pointer, from the left corner, at the 6:47 mark to give the Paladins a 61-38 lead.

In a contest that witnessed the Paladins' top two scorers, Hodges and Holli Wilkins, combine for just 10 points and 5-for-19 shooting, Furman's bench delivered in a big way, outscoring Winthrop 34-2.

The Paladins will play host to San Diego State this Friday at Timmons Arena, with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information