RICHMOND, VA. -- Kelsey Ellis scored 12 of her team high 18 points in the fourth quarter to power Furman past Richmond, 69-62, in women's basketball action Tuesday afternoon at the Robins Center.

Ellis, a senior guard from Pooler, Ga., opened the final period with a 3-pointer to give Furman (5-2) a 54-45 lead and later turned back a rally after Richmond (5-2) cut it to 58-56, converting her second 3-pointer of the period with 3:25 remaining to put the Paladins up, 61-56.  From that point she scored six of Furman's final eight points to put the game away, securing a split in the squad's two-game road trip.

The game marked the first meeting between the Paladins and Spiders in women's basketball and Furman's first win in three outings versus Atlantic 10 Conference opposition this year.

Cierra Carter recorded her second double-double of the season, tallying 11 points to go along with 10 rebounds as Furman dominated Richmond, 44-29, on the boards for only the Paladins' second positive rebounding effort of the season.

Freshman Kaitlyn Duncan contributed seven of her season high nine points in a decisive third quarter, and Whitney Bunn, faced with intense defensive pressure, delivered six points and a game high 10 assists while playing all 40 minutes.

"What an outstanding team win," said Furman head coach Jackie Carson.  "Kelsey Ellis was huge for us with monster shots, particularly in the fourth quarter, and Kaitlyn Duncan had a breakout game that I hope will give her confidence to score whenever she has an opportunity.  She has the chance to be such a difficult matchup, which she showed today by driving to the rim, rebounding, and hitting the 3-pointer.  Every player gave great minutes and energy, which is what it took for us to beat a very good Richmond team."

Furman built a 10-point lead in the second quarter before Richmond closed the first half with a 15-6 run to cut the Paladins' advantage to 29-28 at intermission.

The Spiders scored the first five points of the third quarter to go up 33-29, but the Paladins, who converted their final seven shots  of the period, battled back to take the lead for good at 39-37 on Duncan's jump shot with 3:19 remaining in the period.  Duncan went on to deliver a 3-pointer and a layup in helping Furman stretch its advantage, which grew to 51-45 on Whitney Bunn's jumper in the quarter's final second.

The fourth period belonged to Furman, as Ellis' two 3-pointers and six Paladin free throws to finish the game closed out the Spiders.

Furman blistered the nets with a 56.0 percent shooting effort in the second half (14-for-25) to finish the contest at 49.1 percent.  Richmond, meanwhile, shot just 37.1 percent from the field, hitting on only 11-of-33 attempts over the final two periods.

The Spiders got a game high 22 points from Janelle Hubbard and 16 points apiece from Micaela Parson and Lauren Tolson.

The Paladins return home to play Elon on Saturday in a 2:00 p.m. game at Timmons Arena.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information