SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Niyah Lutz and Lilly Hatton scored 14 points apiece and Wofford used a strong fourth quarter to turn back Furman, 61-54, in Southern Conference women's basketball season openers for both teams Saturday at Richardson Indoor Stadium.

The win improves Wofford to 5-3 on the season and 1-0 in SoCon play while Furman falls to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in league action.

The two teams are scheduled to meet in Greenville on Feb. 25.

A layup by Furman's Tierra Hodges with three minutes to go in the third period gave the Paladins a 41-35 lead, but the Terriers finished the period with a 7-0 run to go up 42-41 following a layup by Annabelle Schultz with 1:19 remaining.

After Paladin freshman Sydney James tied it at 44-44 with a three-point play at the 8:38 juncture, Jackie Carman buried a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, and Jamari McDavid converted two free throws a short while later to give Wofford a 49-44 lead.

James' 3-pointer from the left wing pulled Furman to within 54-53 with 3:19 on the clock, but Wofford answered with a McDavid jump shot and layup by Lutz, the later with 1:36 to go for a 58-53 advantage.

Wofford converted 5-of-11 shots and claimed a 14-9 advantage on the boards in the decisive fourth period, ending the contest shooting 43.1 percent from the field and with a 40-33 advantage on the glass.

Lutz combined her 14 points with a game high 12 rebounds.

Hodges led all scorers with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Furman finished the contest shooting just 34.5 percent (19x55), and made just 5-of-19 shots over the game's final 10 minutes.

Celena Taborn joined Hodges in double figures with 11 points and had eight caroms.

The Paladins play host to Chattanooga next Friday in a 7:00 p.m. contest and will face the Mocs again on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.