GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Tierra Hodges scored 16 points and Furman used a strong second quarter surge to take a lead it would never relinquish on the way to a 52-46 victory over Chattanooga in Southern Conference women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at Timmons Arena.

The victory earned Furman (5-7, 1-2 SoCon) the weekend series split with Chattanooga (7-5, 2-1 SoCon) in the league's unique season scheduling model established due to the pandemic.

Freshman Tate Walters followed Hodges in the scoring column with 12 points, and senior Tyah Hunter, making her first collegiate start at point guard following season ending injuries to Paladin guards Jarya Outten and Paraskevi Koilia, delivered 10 points in a career high 36 minutes of action.

Trailing 11-4, Furman finished off the first period with a 9-2 run to tie it at 13-13, and then carried the momentum into the second frame, using a 12-2 spurt to grab a 25-15 advantage following a pair of Hodges free throws at the 5:42 mark.

The Paladins extended their lead to 33-19 with two Hunter free throws and took a 33-22 edge into halftime.

Chattanooga stayed within striking distance over the game's final 20 minutes, cutting Furman's lead to 46-44 following a pair of Eboni Williams free throws at the 4:39 juncture.  The Mocs, however, couldn't cash in on two Paladin turnovers and a pair of offensive rebounds over the next two minutes, which the Paladins weathered before Hodges fed Taborn open underneath for a layup and 48-44 lead with 2:43 to go.

Walters got a friendly roll off the rim on a runner down the lane to put Furman up, 50-44, with a minute left.  Taborn then answered a UTC basket with two free throws with 14 seconds on the clock to put the game on ice.

Furman, which converted 19-of-15 shots in the game (37.3 percent), used spirited defense to push Chattanooga into 24 turnovers.  The Mocs shot only 32.7 percent from the field (18x55), connecting on just 2-of-18 3-pointers.

Abbey Cornelius paced UTC with 13 points and Williams contributed 12 points and a game high nine rebounds.

Hodges' eight caroms paced Furman, which overcame a 40-30 shortfall on the glass.

The Paladins play Thursday at Mercer in a 7:00 p.m. contest.