GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Winners of back-to-back games and five of its last seven outings, Furman's women's basketball squad looks to continue its late season surge this evening when it hits the road to face Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C.  Tipoff for the SoCon Digital Network video streamed contest is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Ramsey Center.

Fans can also listen to Bryant Lambert's play-by-play call of the game via Stretch Internet, follow the contest via live stats, and get in-game twitter updates @FurmanWBB (#FUWBB) — all accessible through FurmanPaladins.com.

Furman (17-11, 6-6 SoCon) will go for the season series sweep of Western Carolina (9-18, 1-11 SoCon) after claiming an 84-72 decision over the Catamounts on Jan. 31 in Greenville behind 23-point performances by Brittany Hodges and Holli Wilkins, and Whitney Bunn's 15 points and 12 assists. Justin Taylor poured in a game high 28 points to lead WCU.

The Paladins are coming off a 77-68 triumph over UNCG on Saturday, highlighted by Hodges' 21-point, 13-rebound performance and 17 points and 12 assists from Bunn.  The win over the Spartans gave Furman its 12th home triumph (12-3) this year — a Timmons Arena record.

The Paladins enter the WCU clash in fifth place in the Southern Conference standings, a game behind fourth place Samford and two games back of third place Mercer.  The No. 4 and No. 5 seeds will square off against each other on Mar. 5 at 2:15 p.m. in SoCon Tournament action at UNC Asheville's Kimmel Arena.  The No. 3 seed will play No. 6 at 6:45 p.m. that evening.

The Paladins top the SoCon in 3-point shooting (37.6%) and boast three players — Kelsey Ellis (41.7%/1st), Allison Beasley (38.8%/4th), and Bunn (35.4%/11th) — among the SoCon's Top 12 long range shooters.  

Bunn has been an iron horse for the Paladins this year, playing all but 15 minutes over the last 16 games, and leading Furman in scoring (14.2 ppg/5th in SoCon) and ranking sixth nationally in assists (204/7.3 apg).  Her 204 assists is a school record and the fifth highest tally in SoCon history.  

Hodges is next in scoring, averaging 13.5 ppg (8th in SoCon) and 9.1 rpg (2nd in SoCon), and is currently leading the league in field goal percentage (57.4%).  

Furman, which drained a season high 27 free throws on 35 attempts (77.1%) in the win over UNCG, has converted 117-of-146 free throws (80.1%) over its last seven games.

The Paladins wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. contest at Wofford.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information