GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Tyah Hunter and Tierra Hodges scored 14 points apiece and Furman led from start to finish in beating Western Carolina, 54-45, in Southern Conference women's basketball action Friday evening at Timmons Arena.

Hunter converted 7-of-8 shots from the field for her 14 points, which marked a new career high for the Hopewell, Va., senior guard, whose previous best 11-point outing came in a win over Erskine in early January.

Hodges, who entered the game ranked second in the SoCon in scoring (16.7 ppg) and the league's top rebounder (10.0 rpg), matched her season average with 10 caroms, giving the redshirt senior small forward from Covington, Ga., her 11th double-double of the season.

Furman (8-13, 4-8 SoCon) scored the game's first six points, led 16-7 after one period, by six points at halftime, and were never seriously threatened over the game's final 20 minutes.

Back-to-back layups by Hunter gave Furman its largest lead of the contest, 49-35, midway thru the fourth quarter.

Western Carolina (5-15, 2-8 SoCon) got a game high 21 points from senior guard Lauren LaPlant and 13 from Tembre Moates.

Freshmen Sydney James and Tate Walters contributed eight points apiece for Furman, which shot 46.8 percent from the field (22-of-47).

The Paladins also commanded the boards, registering a 40-26 advantage and racked up 15 assists on their 22 made baskets, including a game high seven dishes by Walters.

The two teams play again on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.