GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Chandler Christopher drained two free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining to lift East Tennessee State to a 73-72 victory over Furman in Southern Conference season opening action for both teams Saturday afternoon at Timmons Arena.

Furman (11-6, 0-1 SoCon), which trailed by 17 points midway through the second half, battled back to take a pair of one-point leads in the final minute, the last coming on a Whitney Bunn layup with 11 seconds left, but on the ensuing possession Christopher was fouled after splitting the Paladin defense and sent to the free throw line, where she stripped the net on both chances to deliver the decision to East Tennessee State (9-7, 1-0 SoCon).

The verdict handed Furman its first home loss this season and snapped the Paladins'11-game winning streak at Timmons Arena.

Buccaneer freshman Tianna Tarter, who led all scorers with 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting, delivered her final basket of the game with 28 seconds left, converting a driving floater for a 71-70 lead.

Following a 30-second timeout, Bunn used dribble penetration off the left wing to get to the glass and convert the layup to put the Paladins up, 72-71.

Furman appeared headed to a big loss after ETSU used a 13-0 run over a four-minute stretch to go up 61-44 following a Christopher layup with 12:30 remaining. The Paladins, however, came off the deck with an 11-0 streak, capped by a rainbow 3-pointer from freshman Cierra Carter, to pull within six points at 61-55 with 7:20 to go.

Two more Carter 3-pointers and a Bunn trey, comprising a 9-4 Paladin spurt, pulled the Paladins to within a point at 65-64 with 3:13 on the clock.

The Paladins drew even at 67-67 after Holli Wilkins secured an offensive rebound and converted a three-point play at the 1:19 mark, setting up the game's furious final minute.

Wilkins and Bunn paced the Paladins with 19-point performances, and Carter, making her first career start in place of the injured senior Sarah Durdaller, used three, 3-pointers — all in the second half — to key a season-best 11-point performance, which she combined with eight rebounds.  Brittany Hodges finished with 11 points and eight caroms.

Cara Bowling trailed Tarter in the scoring column for ETSU, finished with 16 points, including 3-of-5 work from beyond the arc.  Christopher accounted for 12 points, and Destiny Mitchell finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.  Serena Clark registered a game high 12 boards to go along with eight points and two blocks.

The Buccaneers shot 50 percent from the field (29-of-58) and won the game at the free throw line, draining 11-of-12 chances.

Furman, which shot 40.9 percent from the field (27-of-66), including 9-of-21 from 3-point range, went just 9-of-16 at the free throw line (56.3%).

Bunn, who entered the game ranked fifth nationally in assists, collected eight dishes.

Furman returns on action on Monday when it welcomes defending league regular season and tournament champion Chattanooga to Timmons Arena for a 7:00 p.m. contest.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information