GREENVILLE, S.C. --  Whitney Bunn scored 25 points and Furman's seniors, playing in their final home game, combined for 32 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Paladins past Western Carolina, 71-56, in Southern Conference women's basketball play Saturday afternoon at Timmons Arena.

The win was the third straight for Furman (14-13, 7-4 SoCon) and completed the season sweep of Western Carolina (6-21, 2-11 SoCon).  The Paladins wrap up the regular season with a pair of road games at Samford (Feb. 25) and Mercer (Feb. 27) before Southern Conference Tournament action gets underway on Mar. 3 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.

On Senior Day at Timmons Arena, it was Bunn, the junior point guard, who led Furman's second half surge, tallying 18 or her game high 25 points over the final 20 minutes.  The All-SoCon performer, who torched Western Carolina for a career high 33 points in the Paladins' 83-76 overtime win in Cullowhee on Jan. 21, connected on 10-of-17 shots and 3-of-4 free throws, and tacked on a game high six assists.

Paladin senior forward Shianne Goodwin contributed 15 points and eight rebounds while fellow seniors Holli Wilkins and Kelsey Ellis contributed 11 and six points, respectively.

Furman, which never trailed in the contest, got eight points from Wilkins to grab an 18-9 lead after one period and took a 33-27 advantage into intermission.

Goodwin gave the Paladins a 42-31 advantage three minutes into the second half, but Western Carolina rallied to get within 45-41 after Ali Lane converted one of two free throws with 2:31 to go in the period.

Leading 53-45 a little over a minute into the fourth quarter, Furman took command with a 10-2 run on the strength of a pair of baskets by Bunn and Goodwin, whose layup with 5:15 to go stretched the advantage to 63-47 and effectively put the game in the win column for the Paladins.

Raziya Farrington paced Western Carolina with 16 points while Sherae Bonner and Kyia Hough contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Furman fashioned a solid shooting performance, connecting on 26-of-58 field goal attempts (44.8 percent).  Western Carolina, meanwhile, shot just 31.3 percent from the field (20x64), including just 7-of-33 in the second half (21.7 percent).  The Catamounts were just 1-of-16 from 3-point range.

The Paladins' strong shooting help neutralize Western Carolina's 49-35 rebounding advantage, which including a 22-8 bulge on the offensive glass.

Cierra Carter led Furman with 10 caroms.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information