ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Tianna Knuckles tallied 14 points and UNC Asheville used balanced scoring and dominance on the boards to defeat Furman, 84-71, in women's basketball "Education Day" action Friday morning at Kimmel Arena.

Knuckles connected on just 4-of-15 shots, including two of the Bulldogs' three 3-pointers, but her second trey with 3:42 remaining and UNCA leading 67-63 helped blunt a Furman rally and send the Bulldogs (9-1) to their program record ninth consecutive victory.

Whitney Bunn led all scorers with 22 points, and Holli Wilkins added 19 points.  Cierra Carter recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kelsey Ellis chipped in 11 points to round of the double figure scorers for the Paladins (6-5).

Ja'Da Brayboy followed Knuckles with 12 points and K.J. Weaver and Chatori Major delivered 11 points apiece for UNCA, which posted a 47-34 rebounding advantage and a overwhelming 30-2 differential in bench scoring.  The Bulldogs' 15-5 edge on the offensive glass helped UNCA post a 10-point advantage (14-4) on second chance points.

Furman, which trailed in the game from start to finish, used an Ellis 3-pointer to get within three at 20-17 early in the second quarter, but UNCA bounced back with a 7-0 run to go up 27-17 following Knuckles' first 3-pointer of the game at the 4:58 mark.

The Bulldogs closed the first half with a 7-2 spurt, capped by a Kahlia Webb jump shot with 29 seconds to go to take a 36-25 lead into intermission.

Furman used a Bunn 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to get within nine points at 60-51.

The Paladins slowly chipped away at UNCA's lead in the fourth quarter, cutting it to 67-63 following a Bunn free throw with 4:25 remaining.  Furman's bid to get closer failed, however, as an Ellis 3-ball on the next possession missed.  After claiming the rebound, Knuckles drained her second 3-pointer from the wing to put the Bulldogs back up 70-63 with less than four minutes to go.

The Paladins had one more chance to draw close, trailing 70-65 following a Bunn layup, but on the Paladins' next possession, the Bulldogs' Paige Love came up with a steal, and UNCA proceeded to reel off eight straight points over the next two minutes to put the game away.

Although Furman shot better, connecting on 43.8 percent of their chances (28-of-64), the Bulldogs' stronger inside attack  helped UNCA get to the free throw line, where the Bulldogs converted 21-of-29 chances to Furman's 9-of-13.

Furman continues its season-long five-game road stretch on Sunday at Appalachian State in a 2:00 p.m. game.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information