CLEMSON, S.C. -- Nikki Dixon scored 25 points and Clemson used solid shooting to turn back Furman, 79-69, in women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The win improved Clemson to 3-1 on the season while Furman suffered its first loss of the campaign to fall to 3-1.

The Paladins will now travel to Cancun, Mexico, to play three games in the Cancun Challenge, opening on Nov. 27 against Hartford before playing Florida State (Nov. 28) and Washington (Nov. 29).

Dixon, who converted 8-of-13 shots from both the field and the free throw line, tallied 16 of her game high 25 points in the second half as the Tigers shot 50 percent from the field (11-for-22) over the game's final 20 minutes to finish at 48.1 percent (25-for-52).  Dixon also added nine rebounds and a block in 25 minutes of action.

Brittany Hodges, the SoCon preseason player of the year, led Furman with the 25th double-double performance of her career, scoring 23 points and registering 14 rebounds before fouling out with three minutes remaining.

Holli Wilkins added 14 points for the Paladins, who converted 21-of-54 shots (38.9 percent).

Furman trailed 41-33 at intermission but used a 9-0 run to start the second half to take a 42-41 lead, its only advantage of the period, following a Hodges layup at the 15:35 mark.

Dixon put Clemson back in front with layup with 13:54 to go and added a free throw for a 44-42 advantage.Daneesha Provo's basket on the Tigers' next possession made it 46-42, helping the Tigers blunt Furman's rally.

The Paladins kept the game close over the next several minutes and trailed 65-62 following a Wilkins 3-pointer with just under five minutes left, but a 7-0 spurt by Clemson, capped by a Dixon layup with two minutes remaining, pushed the Tigers' advantage to 72-62 and sealed the game's outcome.

Chelsea Lindsay chipped in 16 points and Shelbie Davenport added 13 points for Clemson.

Furman posted a 42-31 rebounding advantage, but the Paladins were hurt by 18 turnovers, which led to 24 Clemson points.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information