GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's women's basketball program honored its seniors on Sunday, and
Tierra Hodges made sure it was a special day by stepping up with 21 points and 10 rebounds in leading the Paladins past Western Carolina, 56-44, in Southern Conference women's basketball action at Timmons Arena.
The victory earned Furman (9-13, 5-8 SoCon) the two-game weekend sweep over Western Carolina (5-16, 2-9 SoCon) and marked the Paladins' eighth straight triumph over the Catamounts. It also improved Furman to 5-1 at home in league play this season.
Hodges, who along with fellow Paladin seniors
Celena Taborn,
Tyah Hunter, and
Jarya Outten, were recognized in pre-game ceremonies, saved her best until the fourth quarter when she scored 11 of  her 21 points to help Furman fend off Western Carolina, which twice got within three points in over the game's final 10 minutes.
Hodges' three-point play off an assist from Taborn at the 7:38 mark doubled Furman's advantage to 41-35, and she sealed the game with her second three-point play of the quarter to give the Paladins their first double-digit lead of the game, 52-42, with 1:23 remaining.
The Covington, Ga., product, who entered the contest as the league's second leading scorer (16.6 ppg) and top rebounder (10.0 rpg), supported her numbers by connecting on 8-of-14 shots, including a 3-pointer, and all four free throws in 39 minutes of action before head coach
Jackie Carson subbed her All-SoCon performer and other seniors in the game's last minute.
Taborn joined Hodges in double figures with 10 points, and freshman
Sydney James contributed nine points.
Furman trailed 10-9 after one period but got five points each from James and Grace Van Rij in the second quarter to take a 23-16 lead into halftime.
The Paladins led throughout the second half and finished the game shooting 43.5 percent, connecting on 20-of-46 shots.
Kyla Allison led Western Carolina with 14 points.
Hodges' 10 rebounds helped the Paladins register a 32-24 differential on the glass.
Furman wraps up its regular season next Thursday when it plays host to Wofford in a 7:00 p.m. contest at Timmons Arena.
